Reesy

I've injured my knee and looks like i won't be able to run on it for a couple of weeks so was wondering if there's any other cardio without using my knees?
This rules out treadmill, x-trainer, rowing, cycling and maybe swimming.

Anybody know cardio using just my upper body?

I'm still doing upper body weights obviously so keeping active, but feel a bit flat without the cv.
Thanks

robbiedont

Whats the injury? Would have thought you could still swim...

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Reesy

I don't really know mate it just hurts on the inside of my knee when i walk/run.

Haven't tried swimming but it's a bit of an effort. Any other cardio i could do in the gym or outside?

robbiedont

The first thing you should do is consult a physio, doesn't have to be that expensive, I use a running specialist and last time cost me £25.

Problem being if you visit the doctor they will tell you to lay off it and take anti inflammatory drugs which may help the symptoms but won't tell you what you have done and more importantly what you can do to stop it in the future.

What I don't understand (and I am JUST as guilty on this) is how we are all happy to throw money at creatine and stuff, but when it comes to maybe needing a specialist take a look at us for not much more money we would rather get an internet verdict!

Remember, its hard to diagnose over the net ;)

Good luck, but other than swimming I think you will struggle

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the_illuminati

only thing i can think of is something like canoeing? but if swimming abit of an effort and you cant canoe might be abit dangerous lol, have you tried some very low weight, high rep exercises?

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Reesy

Doctors are useless i wouldn't even consult them for a cold. I've got a local physio who i visit almost yearly now with different injuries from rugby. Thing is he charges £25 a visit, and tells me to come back 3 or 4 times to 'check on progress', which means over £100 by the end! It would be worth it for a long term injury but my knees are usually fine.

I'd rather just rest it for a few weeks and hopefully it will have healed.

Ok no worries ill just take a break for a week or so and then slowly on the bike and get back into walking.

Cheers for the help

robbiedont

If it was on the outside of the knee I would say ITBS, but on the inside god knows.

Have you been doing anything different lately? Did it "go" while you were doing something?

New trainers? New insoles?

Do you stretch?

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robbiedont

And for the record, seeing a doctor about a cold would be useless really seeing as there is nothing they could do anyway ;) ;)

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irwit

get your speedos on mate and get swimming, pretty sure im right in saying its the best cardio and 0 impact on your joints so win win. Plus theres so many different ways to swim. Front crawl I only use my legs for balance so its all upper body but if I want to give my legs a blast i lie on my back and kick away. Then you can do back stroke for a good back workout. Sounds so good I think Ive just talked myself into a swim now cya :o)

AussieMarc

straight leg rowing.. use the rowing machine but keeping your legs fairly straight just pull with your arms.. low intensity x-trainer may (and i say MAY) not aggravate it as there is very little impact.. all your doing is bending the knee joint.. get a bit of a bob happening and your not using your knees much at all..

other option is boxing.. see a personal trainer or take a mate along or simply buy some focus mits an gloves and get your mrs/friend to hold the mits for you.. boxing is great cardio..

plymetrics are another way... hold a medicine ball above your head, squat down only slightly and slam it into the floor as hard as you can.. catch and repeat.. can do a similar thing against a wall as well.. make sure its a bouncy medicine balls and not the ones filled with sand or flour.

finally, why not try a circuit as opposed to a standard weights program... 3 sets of each exercise, one straight after the other.. lighter weight, higher reps and very minimal rest between each exercise... do the full circuit 3 times and there is your weights session.

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Reesy

I think the injury may have come about due to wear and tear from an increase in weight with squats using the smith machine? I'm not entirely sure but its the only thing i can think that would've caused it. I don't stretch the knees in particular because I've no idea how to:(.

Was just thinking today about the lighter weight, higher rep workout. I've done the '100 reps' where you put the weight as low as possible and as many reps (max 100) with no rest between exercises. Might give that a try tomorrow because its still doing weights and bring on a good sweat too.

The straight legged rowing sounds good too ill have a go at that, cheers AussieMarc.

Thanks for the help people