My running days are over

[Triptych]

I've been using my treadmill for almost 20 years now, and recently I stopped because of some hip and knee pain, thinking it was just temporary. Then a lump appeared on the side of my right knee, so I went to the doctor. When he told me the lump was benign I was relieved, but then he gave me the real bad news: my knee is per-arthritic, and it'll get worse over time.

Growing old really s----. 

Ugh. There goes my treadmill. Does anyone have suggestions for non-impact cardio that isnt swimming?

[JadeHellbringer]

Maybe a rowing machine?

[Istal_Devalis]

Cycling is supposed to be non-impact, but may not be an option with your knee being as it is. Check with your doc.

I've got a small form factor 'desk' cycle I use so I can exercise while working/watching TV.

[dgorsman]

Walking is the usual suggestion.  It's not quite as strenuous a workout but can still do well at least until the arthritis really starts kicking in.

[garhkal]

rather than treadmills, how's about an elyptical?

[rebs]

Walking and lifting are always there for you.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

rather than treadmills, how's about an elyptical?

I've been using elliptical machines for years and I love them.  You can get a great workout without putting a lot of pressure on your knees or hips.

[Prospernia]

Try swimming or cycling; I cycle about 22 miles a week.  As long as you get your cardio in, that is, an hour's worth of exercise, at 90% or less of your max heart-rate (220 - your age), you'll be fine.

I used to take swimming at the local community-college (so I could use the pool): I was swimming 3KM a week!  But you can only take each class four times (two classes), so, alas.

[garhkal]

Cycling is also good, but depending on where he lives, he may not want to cycle outside.

[Zematus737]

Instead of recommending alternatives to running, you can try to alleviate the root causes of fibromyalgia and joint inflammation.  I have electro hyper-sensitivity syndrom and MCAS.  If I eat any non-kosher foods, anything high in fat, preservatives, or sugar, I experience the joint pain and heightened sensitivities to electronics (EMF & RF) as my nerves (mostly up and down the vagus line) also join in the inflammation party.  I continue to lift weights and run.

Try a change in diet and see how you feel.  We are all experiencing a rising rate of daily exposure to environmental radiation by our high tech lifestyles and the continual radio in our atmosphere that is disrupting electrons in our cells (mitochondria specifically) to disproportionate degree.  When mitochondria have their electron pairs disrupted, they go to the nearest organ to borrow more electrons.  If this electron theft continues on a constant and regular basis, you will suffer deterioration in the weakest, or most strained, organ. 

Do the diet thing and see if it relieves joint issues.  Delicious cheeses and bacon are now your enemy.  Keep an eye on devices you keep on your lap or near your legs.  Electro magnetic radiation is pervasive and works very slowly and is generally being ignored as the root cause of many modern illnesses.  Even though there are many case studies done on rats and EMF that prove this organ damage, tumors and cancer is occurring in them over the long term. 

consider the following case studies:
10 year study on lab mice done with 900 and 1900mhz:
TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS
STUDIES IN B6C3F1/N MICE EXPOSED TO
WHOLE-BODY RADIO FREQUENCY RADIATION
AT A FREQUENCY (1,900 MHz) AND MODULATIONS
(GSM AND CDMA) USED BY CELL PHONES

the list of symptoms near the last page of this document:
Guideline of the Austrian Medical Association for the diagnosis and treatment of EMF related health problems and illnesses (EMF syndrome)

And one of the most concise documents I have found here:
EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2016 for the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health
problems and illnesses

[MarauderD]

Welcome to the bad knee club.  I'm 49, and my knees were pretty much done at 29 from too much basketball for too long. 

0 impact exercise is important, as others have noted.  That means no footfall.  None.  So you can get creative, but people are on the money.  Cycling, elliptical machines, swimming and rowing are the best ways to get good cardio now.  Minor footfall would be the next category.  Vigorous walking, ice skating both work here (only if you have some good skating experience to the point where you aren't falling!).  Lots of folks are surprised ice skating can help when you have bad knees, but the limited friction means you can really move around, and skating can be great exercise.

Number one thing is to just get out and do something.  Doesn't matter what, but take care of those joints.  Once you have arthritis or swelling (or you lost all your cartilage in your knees in my case) you need to find what works for you and your body and stick with it.  Good luck and welcome to the club that no one ever wants to enter!   

[garhkal]

Heck, go roller blading/skating.

[Prospernia]

Cycling is also good, but depending on where he lives, he may not want to cycle outside.

You have a point; I go biking in thunder-storms and 40 MPH wind-gusts (because, at times, I have to).

[17thRecon]

Maybe look into Kettlebells.

[CrossfirePilot]

I feel for you.  I used to love to run the distance.  But I am now 50 and my knees really started going bad about 15 years ago.  I still play around with the boys but I move like an old man.  When on a treadmill I usually just set to the steepest grade and do it as a brisk walk.  Also the stair mills that are at some gyms work great for a good workout.  Finally I started lifting weights almost daily in order to keep from getting flabby. I went from 140 to 160 and feel great.  There are lots of other options to help keep you looking like a "10"

Another thing that I have gotten for leg workouts is a balance board and one of those 1/2 balance ball or burpee balls.  Just standing on one of those and doing some body weight squats can give a good workout for legs and core and not hammer your knees like running does.

Hope this helps.

[elf25s]

ok silly but after i got hit by a car back in 11 and learned to fly ...well it was only 120 ft still it was flying. well my left hip was dislocated and my spine sports tiny spines and bone burrs along with some nerve damage due to small cracks that never healed right i was not able to walk long distances and jog...gained some flesh i did not want  asked a doctor about low impact stuff...well swimming or walking in the pool helped...low impact does not cause me pain and it works....oth when i lay down and float freaks life guards out....its like being in one of those sensory depreviation tanks....i fell asleep few times like that

[Prospernia]

And even if you, or all of you are not in a climate that is suitable for swimming or cycling, the primary-point is cardio; an hour's worth of exercise at 90% or below your max heart-rate. My swimming coach in college, that had two heart-attacks while I was there, couldn't stress that enough. And he was a college athlete-runner.

[Triptych]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I've got a swimming pool, but I've been having skin rashes when I swim, probably because of the chlorine. I live in the tropics, so algae build up is a lot if we don't chlorinate the pool daily. I'll probably do more walking for now.

[Daryk]

I've also seen hand crank cardio machines if walking becomes problematic.

[Zematus737]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I've got a swimming pool, but I've been having skin rashes when I swim, probably because of the chlorine. I live in the tropics, so algae build up is a lot if we don't chlorinate the pool daily. I'll probably do more walking for now.

The skin rashes from the chlorination is killing microbes overgrowth that is being excreted from your pours.  Take a black light and confirm the slight glow emanating from your pores.  This is exactly what happened to me when I first experienced my first symptoms after taking a dip in the pool at the gym after my workouts, followed by dietary issues and sensitivities, adrenal fatigue, heart arrhythmia, MCAS and a host of other things listed in that long list of symptoms list noted.  The wear MAY just be from impact over time.  But if it isn't! do seriously take my comment into consideration.  Certain fungi and molds become super charged and thrive by high radiation environments and this may be the cause of overgrowth of what is usually benign bacteria in our body. 

[Zematus737]

The rashes are best dealth with tobacco ashes after a generous application of apple cider vinegar.  If your skin burns like holy hell on areas where the rashes occur after swimming, you have confirmed that I am right.  Any open wound will react to vinegar, but if the excretions are there prior to the formation of the rash after you swim the reaction will be the same over that smooth skin.  These are more helpful and natural than any more harsher prescriptions you might apply to your body.  But if you must use creams and ignore my advice, at least obtain a cream that is anti-fungal.  The rest will do nothing for you.  Your skin is compensating for for kidneys in filtering out toxins.  Take it easy on your adrenals and do short power lifting sessions if you are experiencing adrenal fatigue.  Your adrenals are practically part of your kidneys.  You stress out your adrenals too much and you overwork your kidneys as well.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Citation really starting to be needed here.

[ANS Kamas P81]

Citation really starting to be needed here.

[rebs]

These help me.  These and a good walk sometimes.

[Triptych]

I've also seen hand crank cardio machines if walking becomes problematic.

Oh! you gave me an idea. I don't like cycling because my back starts to bother me when I sit too long, so I bought myself a stepping machine. The old sporting goods shop was gonna close and they only had the display one available, so they let me have it for $28 cash.

[Daryk]

Awesome!  That's quite a deal! :)

[mechnut450]

coming from a person who can't even pedal a bike anymore due to his legs. ( can get all the way around to just about 11  position but i can't get the leg to push forward to complete the loop. ( thankfully I gave a e bike with a throttle to get around on.  I bet it looks weird as once I get going I have to reach over and pick the leg up to get it on the pedal
 But what about  placing some weights on your legs  as you walk to strengthen them. Or  get on some supplement to help with joint pain.  I actually have recently been seeing a Chiropractor  for the leg and back pain ( from Cerebral Palsy) and since then I seen a reduction in the back pain, and the number of falls I have taken.  now if I can just get the drop foot( toe dragging) part fixed I might be alright for another 10 years..

[Triptych]

I feel for you.  I used to love to run the distance.  But I am now 50 and my knees really started going bad about 15 years ago.  I still play around with the boys but I move like an old man.  When on a treadmill I usually just set to the steepest grade and do it as a brisk walk.  Also the stair mills that are at some gyms work great for a good workout.  Finally I started lifting weights almost daily in order to keep from getting flabby. I went from 140 to 160 and feel great.  There are lots of other options to help keep you looking like a "10"

Another thing that I have gotten for leg workouts is a balance board and one of those 1/2 balance ball or burpee balls.  Just standing on one of those and doing some body weight squats can give a good workout for legs and core and not hammer your knees like running does.

Hope this helps.

I'd love to do burpees again, but theyre high impact, right?

coming from a person who can't even pedal a bike anymore due to his legs. ( can get all the way around to just about 11  position but i can't get the leg to push forward to complete the loop. ( thankfully I gave a e bike with a throttle to get around on.  I bet it looks weird as once I get going I have to reach over and pick the leg up to get it on the pedal
 But what about  placing some weights on your legs  as you walk to strengthen them. Or  get on some supplement to help with joint pain.  I actually have recently been seeing a Chiropractor  for the leg and back pain ( from Cerebral Palsy) and since then I seen a reduction in the back pain, and the number of falls I have taken.  now if I can just get the drop foot( toe dragging) part fixed I might be alright for another 10 years..

Sorry to hear about your back pain. I got that too (along with cellphone elbow). The doctor gave me a cortisone shot for my knee and advised me to get one every year, but I don't think I'll be doing more of it. My knee pain is mostly gone since I stopped doing high impact workouts, and now only flares up rarely.

These help me.  These and a good walk sometimes.

I stopped working out with weights years ago because my chest just expands to the point where I need to buy a whole new wardrobe lol. Even pushups does it.

ok silly but after i got hit by a car back in 11 and learned to fly ...well it was only 120 ft still it was flying. well my left hip was dislocated and my spine sports tiny spines and bone burrs along with some nerve damage due to small cracks that never healed right i was not able to walk long distances and jog...gained some flesh i did not want  asked a doctor about low impact stuff...well swimming or walking in the pool helped...low impact does not cause me pain and it works....oth when i lay down and float freaks life guards out....its like being in one of those sensory depreviation tanks....i fell asleep few times like that

Wow, thank goodness you survived and recovered. 

[CrossfirePilot]

I'd love to do burpees again, but theyre high impact, right?

Right. But I just use the 1/2 ball thing to balance on to try and work those core and leg muscles.

[rebs]

I stopped working out with weights years ago because my chest just expands to the point where I need to buy a whole new wardrobe lol. Even pushups does it.

I'm feeling that now after well over 9 months of sticking to a routine.  It's just a workout either every-other day or two days rest.  For an hour with those and also a pair of 25's that I also have for certain exercises during the cool down phase. 

My tshirts are starting to feel the press.