Mass Building Program with Bad Knees?

[hrg217]

I've been working out for a while now, but recently had a long illness that pretty much wiped out most of my muscle mass. I would turn to the standard beginner's routine (ex. madcow) to build back up a base of muscle mass, but unfortunately have a knee condition similar to arthritis that leaves me unable to do leg work (i.e. squat or deadlift). What routine to build mass would someone recommend that does not involve legs? Thank you.

[ironwill2008]

What routine to build mass would someone recommend that does not involve legs?

There is no mass-building program I've ever been aware of that doesn't include legs.

Deal with your knee issues, then get on any of the approved beginner full-body programs.

[hrg217]

The knee issue appears to be permanent. Is there any routine that I could take out the legs, or replace it, without drastically changing the routine?

[Jasonk282]

Similar to...but not. Deal with your knee issues and do your legs. You have keen issues because you have weak legs... ignoring them is not going to fix the problem.

[hrg217]

the knee issues are not because of weak legs. Ive been to multiple doctors and the only hope is possibly surgery, which they are unsure if that would even help, and regardless is not something I can afford right now. I wish it were as simple as give it time to heal, but that is not the case. I'm trying to move forward with the rest of my life in the meantime, and would like to regain some upper body muscle.

[batman37]

Consider this:

If you work out and build mass, that is more mass for your legs to support. That will make your knees worse if you do not strengthen your legs and are not able to support the mass your build.

Also, I hate to say this but sometimes doctors are full of ****. They try to push for stupid procedures just to rake in money. Heavy squatting fixed my bad knee. I'm not saying it will do the same for you, I'm only saying what you need to exercise caution around the advice of said health experts that make money on your account.

[dnb]

y'know, it's kind of weird, but squatting has actually made my knees hurt less than they used to.

in my case I have excellent knee joints, but the cartilage on the back of the patellas is messed up and I have arthritis in my kneecaps. yet they get better with heavier usage.

go figure.

[hrg217]

I actually tried squatting, hearing similar stories elsewhere, however it only lead to a worsening of my condition and increased pain. At the moment I'm thinking of doing a 4-day split, with back/bic on one day, chest/shoulder/tri on the other, and repeat. I'll focus on bench press, shoulder press, bb row and bb curl.