You should incorporate as much exercise as possible into your daily routine. If you want to stay fit, healthy, and active, you need to have a solid fitness regimen, along with a healthy diet. While you may be inspired by those impressive workouts you see on the internet, you should know that they’re not set in stone. You can customize your exercises according to your requirements and energy levels. In fact, you should do this anyway, so that you have the right set of exercises for your physical requirements.
Many people have joint issues, with knee pain being one of the main ones. If you also face knee problems, then you shouldn’t replicate all the exercises you see. Instead, you need to look for workouts that won’t damage your joints but will still let you sweat it out. Many of these may even help you strengthen your knees, and prevent further joint issues from happening. Here are a few low-impact exercises which let you do a complete workout without straining your knees.
Swimming
This is one of the best low-impact exercises you can do. You have a sense of buoyancy in the pool, and your joints are not strained with impact. However, you can still get a pretty decent workout by doing a few laps of the pool with different strokes. You can get in a full-body workout if you incorporate various styles while swimming. In addition, many public pools and gyms also offer classes that let you do various workouts in a swimming pool.
Elliptical Machine
If you like the workout a machine can give you, the elliptical is your best option. People with knee issues should avoid treadmills at all costs, as they put a lot of impact on your joints. With an elliptical, your movement is smoother, and your feet are not constantly hitting the base. It is the sort of smooth exercise which lets you get your cardio in, and also strengthens your knees, legs, and hips.
Partial Squats
Squats are one of the most useful exercises in most workout routines. However, full squats may be too hard on your knees. Instead, you should opt for partial squats, which don’t involve you bending your knees to their full limit. You simply bend a little, so that your glutes and knees stretch out, but are not strained in any way.
Outdoor Walking
A good old brisk walk may be all the exercise you need, especially if you have weight issues or have severe joint issues. While a treadmill is bad for your knees, walking outside is much healthier. This way, you can also get your fair share of fresh air, and get your heart rate up. Pace yourself according to your body’s limit, and increase your speed over time. However, if you have knee issues like arthritis, do not work up to a jog. Instead, stick to a brisk walk which makes you sweat a bit without hurting your joints.
Low-Resistance Circuit Training
Low-resistance circuit training refers to a series of exercises where you move from one machine to the other after short intervals. You should adjust the resistance settings according to the extent of your knee problems, and discuss your routine with a professional trainer. Then, you can carry out this circuit training as a low-impact cardio routine.
Kettlebell Swings
If you miss the joy of strength training with weights, then kettlebells are a great option for you. You can incorporate exercises like kettlebell swings, which let you strengthen your body without putting too much strain on your knees or back. Talk to your trainer about incorporating this piece of equipment into your workout routine, and you’ll love the results!
To sum up, there are numerous low-impact exercises for people with knee issues. You just have to find the right set of exercises for you and adjust workouts according to the state of your body. After all, working out is about feeling healthy, not destroying your body!
