Hurt knee questions

I did something to my knees I don't know what exactly but its a constant mild pain at various points around the fronts and sides of the joints. It is more irritating that debilitating but I'm approaching the situation with caution.  I've stopped running and stopped lower body weight training. I would really like to continue doing some form of lower body strength training, anybody know any low impact moves? Also, has any one had much success with a supplementlike glucosamine?

Squats, deadlifts, static lunges, bulgarian split squats, romanian deadlifts, good mornings and calf raises are all pretty much no-impact.  Lunges are pretty much the only (common) lower body strength move I can think of that has any impact.

I take a glucosamine/condrotin (sp?) supplement, I can't really say whether or not it makes a difference but it has a pretty good reputation.

I was doing squats, dead lifts and calf raises before I hurt my knees. The squats were aggravating the injury. Would lifting a lower weight still be beneficial?

I'm really not qualified to give advice about how to rehab any injury. The squats and deadlifts may have been how you hurt your knee, I was just pointing out that they are very low impact exercises.

I think the general rule for most injuries is to rest them and if they don't improve see a doctor.

I would stop doing certain low body exercises. You can still do exercises to work the legs it just won't be as intense. If the injury is really bothersome you may need to stop all together but if not you can try these:

Straight leg raise: lay on your back and raise your leg towards the ceiling 15-20 times one leg at a time. Calf raises should be ok. Leg curl, straight legged dead lift for the hamstrings because over working the quads without balancing the the hamstrings can cause knee problems.

Try swimming instead of running, and if the pain persists go see your Doctor.

I have severe arthritis in both my knees and take glucosamine twice a day for a natural joint lubricant, it does help.Also the constant low grade pain could be caused by a small tesr in the miniscus,if pain persists I would see a orthopedic doc.

I've never had any luck with glucosamine. I've had knee problems for years and have had a orthopedic surgeon tell me that static reverse lunges were a preferred exercise. I've been doing them and it has helped me. But like glucosamine it might not work for you. I would also eliminate using weights when doing reverse lunges or squats until you build up the surrounding muscles and can do them without pain. Then add weights back in slowly.

good luck!

The knees are improving. I been doing the calf raises, strait leg dead lifts, and the laying on the floor leg lift thing. I reduced the number in the sets and used moderate weight.  Lots of icing the joints and more days with lower intensity cardio.

If the pain is on the lower outside of your knee it might be IT band problems - basically an overtraining injury from running/walking. If that's the case ice your knees after every work out and don't run or walk for exercise until they don't hurt anymore. Biking is a good cross training exercise for IT suffers as it doesn't further irritate the tendon.