QuestionI had a knee operation 8 yrs. ago and the doctor actually shaved my knee cap
due to pre arthritis he found. I went through alot post surgery that had
developed from the surgery: poor knee tracking, raised knee cap, atrophy of
the muscles, severe muscle cramping, minor RSD: leg turning purplish at
times. It was a horrible time in my life. It is now better, but not perfect at all.
I can't wear high heels, I have to be very careful of my shoes and hard/cement
surfaces for "too long of time". Extensive stairs trigger the problem, once
again. *Two questions: I am living a normal life now, 8 yrs. later, w/ my
limitations. How will my quality of life change in 20 yrs? I don't think I can go
through the suffering I went through 8 yrs. ago, again. So is there anything I
can do now to prevent further deterioation of my knee? *Question 2: I was a
model prior to the operation, (Tall and Thin) and have put on forty lbs. due to
limited movement now. I use to love to run! but can't. I like long walks, but
they aggrivate my knee, for any lenght of time that would be effective as a
cardio workout. I love the smooth ellipticals, in the gym, and have thought of
purchasing one for my home, however long term would it do my knee more
harm? I read your articles
telling me the ellipticals weren't advised for knee trouble. I ride the incubant
bike but not for any length of time. My knee gets "Itchy & soar." Is there any
way I can have a my CARDIO routine to keep my heart healthy, and get rid of
this weight???
In the past typically I lost weight my increasing my activities. I've also slowed
down, and do not feel as healthy. I am now 49 yrs. Please advice. Thank you,
Tina
AnswerTina,
I can't even come close to guessing how your quality of life will be in 20 years, I'm not a fortune teller. :) I think you just need to find an active lifestyle strategy that will work for you. One of the reasons I don't like the ellipticals as much is because they are non-impact, and I believe you should get some sort of impact on the body for bone density maintenance & increases. I don't know how to 'work around' your knee, because about 99% of cardio options are leg-based in their actions. You could try swimming if that's an option. Maybe some of your knee pain would go away if you did a full body strength training program. Many times people don't realize the effectiveness of strength training in their war on fat loss. You don't have to do bodybuilder workouts either with strength training. I have a new guide coming out soon through a website, which could help you. If you email me, I can send it to you as a PDF file for you to read. I think the tips in there would help you establish a good strategy. My STAR System of strength training is pretty simple & effective, as it focuses on squatting, lunging, pushing, pulling, bending, & twisting actions for a full body workout. There's no major worry about individual body parts, just the basic actions to work on & strengthen the body with. With strength training added to your overall regimen, I think you'll likely have less knee issues because the muscles around the knee will be stronger and be able to handle things better. I've worked with senior citizens who have begun just a basic program, and soon they aren't struggling any more with walking and stair climbing. So, just a little bit of strength training, such as 2-3, 20-30 minute workouts a week, can do wonders for people.
Email me at
[email protected] for the guide.
Rick Karboviak
