Exercise choices are limited, please help me decide
 

I had a knee injury and can't do any exercise that puts weight on my knee. I am thinking about joining a gym to use things such as the exercise bikes that are safe for my knee. Is there any gym equipment that doesn't put any impact on the knees?

I was either going to join a gym or buy a recumbent bike for home, but I can't decide which one.

why don't you try hiring a bike and see if you like it rather than buying up-front? Or see if the gym will give you a couple of free sessions or something to see if you like that - the gym will also be able to advise you on what exercises you could do?

I'd say go with whichever one you think you'll like best, although biking will put stress on your knee too, unless you don't have any resistance on it, in which case it's a bit of a waste of time, so it would probably be better to find some other exercise.

I think you can also get exercise DVD's too for people with leg injuries, but others would know more about that. i.e. it has exercises for upper body.

And there's always push-ups! They're hard work! I tried the "100 push up challenge" last year which was good (try googling it). It's a 10 weekly program that takes you from 0 push ups to being able to do 100 pushups with three sessions per week. (in theory. I managed about 60 ish in the end but was pretty pleased with that!)

good luck with finding something to suit you!

I would probably go with the bike. My dad has been talking about how much better they are for your joints than jogging.

Eliptical is low impact, water aerobics also might be excellent. Buy good running shoes they do make a difference.

I highly recommend water exercise. Even when I could barely walk and could barely lift my arms over my head to shampoo I was able to do a fair amount of exercise in the water (now getting into and out of the water and getting dressed afterward was another story).

If there's a warm water therapy or arthritis program in your area, all the better (your local arthrits foundation or department on aging and disability services or United Way should be able to tell you if you have a local program). By keeping the water between 83 and 88 degrees, and close to the temperature of the air, there's no adjustment period or tightening of the joints getting into or out of the water.

I'd live in the water if I could.

Thanks!

My father had knee surgery last February, and he was required to lose a bit of weight beforehand to see if that made the symptoms any better. He had huge problems walking and was in constant pain, but he went to the gym and did the exercise bike for 45 minutes and then would do swimming or water aerobics if he had a bit more time. It seemed to help him out and he managed to lose weight (while dieting on the side, of course).

Knee injuries are frustrating! After I had both menisci trimmed and knees scoped for osteoarthritis I had a little experience with this challenge too.

While you are gym shopping, ask if they have a hand bike. I think it may go by another name but basically, you pedal with your hands.

http://www.amazon.com/%60Hand-Cycle-.../dp/B000LX2K36

These are effective in maintaining our cardiovascular endurance during the recovery period of a lower body injury. I wouldn't use it as my only source of cardio though. Overuse of the shoulders would be a concern of mine...I would crosstrain between the handbike swimming and the recumbent bike if these are options for you as well.

In time, the elliptical is another good option for recovering quad/hamstring strength and endurance without the impact that running creates on our joints.

Vsit a few gyms and request a day or week pass to see if you like the environment and if the equipment is what you need for your successful recovery.

Best of luck!