Exercise routine for bad back/knees Topic


Can anyone point me to an exercise routine for someone with back problems (herniated disk/degenerative disks) and knee problems (arthritic and meniscus repaired). I can't do squats due to the fact that rising from that position is extremely painful. Same with most back exercises. Now my exercise routine is a stationary bike and some walking. Although my knees act up after walking a while.
I'm ten lbs from my goal weight but would like to add more muscle.


I think yoga would help you Walker- there's a fairly new yoga routine specifically for people with back trouble and arthritis. My yoga teacher is doing the training and I'm one of her Guinea pigs, so far I've really benefited and no pain!


There are safe weight resistance exercises to do but I would recommend that you get a specific plan from a physical therapist so that you don't irritate your spine or joints. I also have 2 areas of my spine that give me grief and I worked with a PT for exercises that help strengthen my transverse abdominal muscles especially. It has made a big difference. For cardio, walking, bicycling (stationery or bicycle), swimming (when I am near the ocean), and recently, stationery rowing.


Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely look in to these.


At 61 I was having problems with my hips and knees form 40 years of sitting at a desk. Pilates on the reformer equipment has totally turned that around! I go 3x week and found a place close by that's not too expensive. Burns over 600 calories in 1 hr!!!

Exercise routine for bad back/knees