Best Leg Exercises with a shot knee...

[JasonH]

My knees are a bit shot and I get round it by doing leg extensions and leg presses but stay away from locking out or even reaching the top of the movement - my leg sets are just all one continuous movement. They're done quite slowly though to keep the pressure on the muscle and I'll often incorporate smith squats in there at the end but with my knees wrapped.

[BILL ANVIL]

Maybe leg presses but the width of the platform is an issue. If you still want decent legs with knee problems box squats of all variations are your best bet. The older guys you see still banging out heavy reps on the leg press with their knees wrapped so tight they can't walk are idiots. I rarely have any pain when squating but im using a wide stance and and low bar placement. Btw, my knees are fucked from years of heavy front and back squats with a conventional stance.

Curious, Why box squats?

[Donny]

Just wonder how Sissy Squats would fit into Deicide's rehabing of his knee? Great overlooked exercise for a total stretch of the legs. Going to hit the  legs like nothing else.

Any direct movement for the quads (Hacks/front squats, etc) will affect the knee structure. Flat footed squats and the leg press can spread the work load to the hips/butt and  the mass of thighs themselves . Even the ham's. Good Luck.

                                                                                     

Sissy squats are terrible for the knees !! Please do not do them. I had a knee op in 1999 and it took about 8 months to really be what i would consider normal. Leg Extensions are also hard on your knees and if you do them use a shorter range of motion and don't lower all the way on the downward phase. if i was you i would use the leg press machine with diffrent foot positions and try to hit the Vastus medialus muscle the Teardrop muscle inside your knee by using a wide foot position toes outwards. For Hamstrings straight leg deadlifts and when doing cardio go on the bike as much as possible. I remember in the Hospital the professor said "have you a Bike?" i said yes and he said every day 30 mins cycling. By the way when cycling make sure the seat is at the right height because if it's too low that will hurt your knees.

[basil]

I actually managed to do some decent lunges today, not with too much weight but high reps...I was so tired afterwards it felt like a cardio workout!

Reverse lunges have been a mainstay for me since my knees started to show their age.  I like the barbell as it forces me to keep correct posture.  Give'em try. 

[Narkissos]

Reverse lunges have been a mainstay for me since my knees started to show their age.  I like the barbell as it forces me to keep correct posture.  Give'em try. 

Ditto on the reverse lunges.

I also like the bulgarian split squat.

Prioritizing the hamstrings helps to maintain leg size I've found personally.

[coltrane]

Ditto on the reverse lunges.

I also like the bulgarian split squat.

Prioritizing the hamstrings helps to maintain leg size I've found personally.

bingo