Strengthening weak joints?

Zombiemambo

Now I consider myself a healthy person, or at least on the way to becoming healthier. I've lost a lot of weight and I work out regularly (well I did - some things have gotten in the way recently, and it's been a couple months since I worked out 2-3 times a week), but my joints - specifically my wrists, elbows and knees - ache a lot the day after a good work out. A lot of the time I can't use high-impact machines like treadmills because it hurts too much to do for long intervals. Are there some exercises out there that can strengthen my joints?

Brodo Faggins

I'm assuming you're already eating healthful foods since you mentioned the weight loss and being healthy. Just to make sure though, list your average daily intake. If that's not it, it might just be because of the couple of months of non-working out. Just take it slower than you used to, and ramp up instead of going right into it, and you should be okay.

Dark Moon

Are you including a healthy dose of weight lifting in your fitness regime? Lifting weights properly increases muscle strength all over, including the ones that support your joints. This increase in muscular strength will translate into increased joint stability and overall joint strength. If you aren't currently lifting, start - I advise looking at the Fitness thread in this very forum for some advise on how to do this.

Zombiemambo

I spend about 30-45 minutes doing weights, so I'll try warming up more thoroughly next time. Thanks.

FyreWulff

A recumbent bike will let you work your knees without them having to support your weight. I've only been working out for five minutes a day on one and my knees feel much more flexible and have stopped aching after being up for a while.

brandotheninjamaster

You could always ask your doctor. Even if he doesn't know off the top of his head he can at least suggest someone to contact who can.

BlochWave

Your joints strengthen and improve like most parts of your body you can exercise, and if you run regularly they'll become more capable of handling impact(specifically I'm thinking of your knees and ankles)of course in the process you don't want to actually damage them, so make sure you're not doing what most people do and overtraining when running, or running with crappy tennis shoes or something

Svelte Penguin

Be careful... You could be starting into a bit of tendonitis which is a bitch to get rid of if you ignore it when it starts. I would really suggest seeing your doctor and making sure you are doing ok. The solution to this may be actually less exercising and not more. If that's the case, then overdoing it could lead to permanent and sucky damage. I can't really walk much anymore because I tried to power through knee tendonitis while I was losing weight.

LondonBridge

Take a glucosamine/joint supplement everyday till your joints feel better.

mts

glucosamine will not work for everyone.

that and treadmills are very high impact, you can go for elliptical machines for your running. if your wrists are hurting, it could be you are doing the exercises wrong.

a penguin

Svelte Penguin wrote: »

Be careful... You could be starting into a bit of tendonitis which is a bitch to get rid of if you ignore it when it starts. I would really suggest seeing your doctor and making sure you are doing ok. The solution to this may be actually less exercising and not more. If that's the case, then overdoing it could lead to permanent and sucky damage. I can't really walk much anymore because I tried to power through knee tendonitis while I was losing weight.

Amen brotha. I broke my left elbow a couple of years ago, and developed tendonitis in my right shoulder because I was doing everything with one arm. I went to physical therapy for the shoulder, and they gave my some exercises to do with a rubber- band type deal to strenghten it. Those worked.

So my advice to the OP- Google around for exercises to do to strengthen those joints (I'll wager they will be similar to the ones I did.)