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I am wondering is swimming good for your knees? Lately I have been having bad, weak knees. I’m looking to know if it helps the structure in your knee.
Much depends on which swimming stroke you choose to swim and what problems you may currently have with your knees, if any.
I had a few questions about swimming after knee surgery and how to get swimming exercises without hurting my knee. I recently had surgery and the doctor said I was missing cartilage so I had to stop soccer (my hobby) and any other sport that involved jumping, running and so on. I’m not really experienced in swimming and my knee is still really bad as it hurts whenever I do a simple task. I would like to know if you could recommend me any swimming exercises to help me keep in shape without hurting my knee. Thanks a lot.
Without knowing the full extent of your knee problem it is hard to give precise advice and to be honest, specific knee related exercises should come from a physician or physiotherapist, which I am not.
If keeping in shape by doing some aerobic exercise is what you’re after then swimming is certainly the right thing to be doing. There are a few exercises that will help build up some strength around your knee without causing too much pain, hopefully!
I would advise you to get consent from your physician to swim if you have not done so already.
Firstly forget swimming breaststroke. The leg kick action will cause more problems with your knee than you are trying to solve, so don’t go there.
Your swimming strokes are front crawl and backstroke. Both have an alternating leg kick action, up and down in the water, with a relatively straight leg and relaxed knee and ankle joints. Therefore there is no lateral (sideways) movement or pressure on the knee joint at all.
Holding a float or kickboard out in front of you and kicking will be hard work for your knee and a great workout for you overall. If your knee hurts at all then stop and rest.
Placing a swim noodle under your arms and performing backstroke leg kick is another nice way to build up some strength and fitness in your legs. It can also be performed slowly if you experience any pain or tiredness.
Moving onto to performing the full strokes, front crawl and backstroke, will be an excellent aerobic workout for you. Combine your full stroke laps or lengths with lengths of just kicking; on your back and your front and in 20 to 30 minutes you have the perfect workout.
I must stress again to listen to your knee. If it says stop then stop. I am a swimming teacher not a physician and my advice is based on my experience in teaching. Any problems with your knee should be referred back to your physician and any knee specific rehabilitation exercises should come also from your physician.
I hope I have helped and I wish you all the best.
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