Bad Knees and Lunges, How Do I Get Thru It?

[Vivarant]

Hey everyone thanks for any helpful advice on this topic.

Up until this point I have pretty much avoided lunges like the plague. Why? because my knees just can't handle it. It's better and nearly obtainable if i pop 4 advil. I've been able to do side lunges but on my right side don't get much depth before my knee is screaming.

Now that i've dropped some poundage I can almost do front lunges but again i don't get much depth especially on my right side. I also need to work on my balance because my form is poor and sometimes i lose my balance.

So is there anything i can do to alleviate the pain or should i just continue to do shallow lunges or just give up on lunges altogether? Or just do the lunges that don't bother me as much which is side lunges? Or should i just substitute squats for lunches?

Ok I'll just stop guessing and let you tell me.

[ironwill2008]

Hey everyone thanks for any helpful advice on this topic.

Up until this point I have pretty much avoided lunges like the plague. Why? because my knees just can't handle it. It's better and nearly obtainable if i pop 4 advil. I've been able to do side lunges but on my right side don't get much depth before my knee is screaming.

Now that i've dropped some poundage I can almost do front lunges but again i don't get much depth especially on my right side. I also need to work on my balance because my form is poor and sometimes i lose my balance.

So is there anything i can do to alleviate the pain or should i just continue to do shallow lunges or just give up on lunges altogether? Or just do the lunges that don't bother me as much which is side lunges? Or should i just substitute squats for lunches?

Ok I'll just stop guessing and let you tell me.

Taking pain-killers and then weight-training is a really bad idea.



Don't do any exercise that causes you immediate pain. Review your exercise form; if it's correct but you still experience pian, drop that exercise.

[Vivarant]

Taking pain-killers and then weight-training is a really bad idea.

Yes i kind of had that feeling. I told my dr. about the trouble and his only advice was take pain killers
I'm not terribly sure my form is correct but i have been trying to evaluate it. Are there any substitues for lunges?

thanks for your input

[Critter5592]

Have you tried back lunges, instead of forward/side? My knees aren't the greatest but lunges are actually one thing I have maintained without problems. I have found that back lunges especially are good, I also do them infront of a mirror. I highly suggest doing it in front of a mirror, often times your back knee is supporting really badly unless you are able to notice and keep proper.

[ironwill2008]

I'm not terribly sure my form is correct but i have been trying to evaluate it. Are there any substitues for lunges?

Any compound leg exercise (Squats, Leg Press, Hack Machine, V-Squat, etc.) will satisfactorily work the lower body.



If you're looking for something that more-closely mimics a Lunge, try these; they are similar, but without the knee impact from the leading foot hitting the floor with each rep:

[Vivarant]

Have you tried back lunges, instead of forward/side? My knees aren't the greatest but lunges are actually one thing I have maintained without problems. I have found that back lunges especially are good, I also do them infront of a mirror. I highly suggest doing it in front of a mirror, often times your back knee is supporting really badly unless you are able to notice and keep proper.

no i've never even heard of back lunges but i will look into this for sure, thanks

[tlray2]

I would say work on form with light weight or no weight at all. If it still hurts bad avoid it.