How can I exercise with a knee injury?
Rachel Ross
Updated on February 15, 2026
How can I exercise with a knee injury?
Push-ups, pull-ups, planks, bicep curls and sit-ups are all great exercises that work various upper body muscles. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may also be able to participate in forms of exercise such as kayaking, bicycling, walking or swimming while you are in recovery.
What is the best exercise to strengthen knees?
10 Knee Strengthening Exercises That Prevent Injury
- Squats. Squats strengthen your quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings.
- Sit to Stand.
- Lunges.
- Straight Leg Lifts.
- Side Leg Lifts.
- Short-Arc Extensions.
- Step-ups.
- Calf Raises.
What exercises not to do with bad knees?
5 worst exercises for bad knees
- Deep squats. Squatting movements can exacerbate knee pain.
- Jumping. Exercises that require jumping repeatedly put two to three times of your entire body weight on your knees.
- Running. Running is the current craze.
- Leg press machine.
- Kickboxing.
Does walking strengthen knees?
Walking. Walking is a low-impact activity that doesn’t put too much stress on your knees and can help strengthen the muscles in that area. Start slow and try to work up to a half-hour walk three to five times a week.
Is Climbing stairs good for knees?
Both of these large muscle groups get a workout when you climb stairs. Your own weight is enough to make stair climbing a challenge. Stair climbing also benefits the knees indirectly by helping to manage your weight. By walking up steps for just five minutes, you can burn about 45 calories.
Do step ups strengthen knees?
This exercise strengthens hips, muscles around the knee, and is an overall great exercise.
Is Climbing stairs bad for knees?
Climbing and descending stairs is particularly difficult for people with knee arthritis. Arthritis causes degeneration of the cartilage that cushions the knee joint. Without protective cushioning, the act of climbing stairs becomes uncomfortable.
Is walking or biking better for knees?
Biking, meanwhile, is gentler. “Cycling is a nonweight bearing activity, so it is better for your knees and joints,” Dr. Tanaka said, “and it does not cause much muscle soreness.” Walking, likewise, results in few injuries, unless, like me, you are almost comically clumsy.
What are the worst exercises for your knees?
Are box jumps bad for knees?
When you jump off a box—especially a high one—your weight and gravity pull you toward the floor. This drastically increases the impact on your knees. And if it’s done over and over again, it can lead to painful tendonitis and ligament stress.
Is the treadmill good for arthritic knees?
When you have osteoarthritis, exercise can make you stronger, improve your balance, and lessen knee pain. Walking is an easy, low-impact way to start working out. A treadmill allows you to stay active and walk no matter the weather and doesn’t make your joints move much differently than if you were outside.