Keep Exercising Even With a Knee Injury

When you get a knee injury, it is tempting to just remain in bed all day, or do as little as 
possible. While it is important to get enough rest shortly after you get the injury, that 
doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to move around when you feel comfortable doing so. 
Here are some options for exercising even if you have a knee injury.

Modify Your Cardio Workouts

With a knee injury, you can usually still do cardio workouts, though you need to make 
some modifications. You don’t want to do anything that will hurt your knee or inure it 
more. For example, if you are used to running being your main source of exercise, this 
is going to put too much stress on your knees, but that doesn’t mean you can’t exercise 
outside. Instead of running, try slower walking or even going on a hike, as long as it is 
flat ground since inclines can hurt your knee. You can also try some low-impact 
aerobics, modifying moves as needed.

Try Seated Exercises

For more serious knee injuries or following knee surgery, just walking might be difficult. 
IN this case, you can instead get your workout with your upper body only by trying 
seated exercises. The seated workouts include lifting weights while sitting in a chair or 
on the edge of your bed, working your arms, shoulders, back, and even sometimes your 
abs. Some seated workouts involve moving your legs to work those muscles as well, 
but won’t put the stress of your body’s weight on your knees, so they tend to hurt much 
less.

Use Kettlebells

Kettlebells are a lot of fun and provide a much better workout than you might imagine. 
The great thing about this is that most moves won’t use your knees at all, even though 
you are going to be standing. You just want to avoid moves like lunges and squats, 
since those are bad for your knees. Aside from that, the rest of the moves with the 
kettlebell you can still do, including the kettlebell swing. Just wrap your knee to keep it 
supported during the workout and be careful of how much stress is being put on your 
bad knee.

These are just a few workouts you can do when you have a knee injury. Feel free to try 
some of your ordinary exercises when your knee begins to heal, starting slow and not 
pushing yourself too much.

