| Re: Low Impact ways to build leg muscle mass?
"Mike Beauchamp" <newsgroups@mikebeauchamp.com> wrote in message news:<bo7g33013oc@enews2.newsguy.com>...
> Hey all..
> I'm trying to get a bit of an excercise plan set for this winter. I'm not
> training for anything specific, I just want to lose a bit of weight and be
> faster on the bike next summer, and more fit in general.
>
> I'd like to build up leg muscle, which I figure would require weight lifting
> excercises. The problem with that is that about 6 years ago, I had a
> dislocated patella (playing hockey) and had a few knee surguries. My knee
> definately feels stable now, but some of the leg excercises just plain scare
> me. It's probably a mental block, but still. Just doing a dry lifting action
> with my leg (raising my foot up while sitting in a chair) makes some
> cracking noises that I really hate, and feel like they are very damaging. So
> I hate doing that movement, and would definately NOT want to do it with
> weight on my leg.
>
> Squats seem scary, especially with a lot of weight. With a bit of weight, I
> don't mind them. Calf raises are no problem, and neither are the leg curls
> that work the hamstring. I'm not familiar with the names of the muscle
> groups, or much about the excercises, but, it seems like the main muscles
> used in cycling would be in the front of the thigh.. so, not wanting to do
> leg extensions, I don't really know how else to develop those muscles. Leg
> presses maybe? (although I don't have equipment for that)
I'm no doctor, and don't know much about your problem, but it looks
like anything you could do to gain muscle may cause knee problems. If
you want to work out those muscles, your knee is going to have stess
on it in one way or another, I just don't see any way around that.
You are on the right track to lose weight and increase your fitness
with weights, but you still will need some form of cardio for optimum
results.
I would definately stay away from any leg extensions (like you
described as sitting on the chair and lifting your leg), as they put a
lot of force on the knee. You are better off with squats, deadlifts,
and to a lesser extent, presses. Squats are not as dangerous as many
people think if done correctly. I would argue they are the best and
most important lift of any weight program. If higher weights bother
you, you can make up for that somewhat with higher reps. The key is to
only do as much weight as you can maintain proper form with, and not
to use machines, which don't allow for proper form. Again, I am
unsure of your specific problem, you will need to seek a professional
rather than internet help there.
You might want to check out misc.fitness.weights as well. There are a
lot of jerks there, but a lot of very knowledgable people as well and
a lot of great advice.
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