and active. Play basketball once a week, and it does a number on my knees. I never worn a knee brace or tried compression sleeves on them. Also leg workouts do bring joint pain for a few days after. It isn't terrible, but not comfortable either. I am curious what others do to help the wear and tear. TIA

AgShaun00 said:

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and active. Play basketball once a week, and it does a number on my knees. I never worn a knee brace or tried compression sleeves on them. Also leg workouts do bring joint pain for a few days after. It isn't terrible, but not comfortable either. I am curious what others do to help the wear and tear. TIA

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Do you do barbell squats?

You will recover more slowly. I'm 48, and have noticed my recovery time is longer than it used to be.

I also think you have to have a good overall fitness and health strategy. Get your weight into a good healthy range if it isn't already. Stay active and work out regularly. Do cardio, but also do weights do your bones and connective tissues stay conditioned to loads. Eat a good diet that will support recovery and repair. Stretch a lot and consistently after your workouts so you maintain joint flexibility and range of motion.

I quit going for heavy max 1 reps and heavy lifts and go for more lighter reps. Not light, but lighter. I also have started to use neoprene lifting braces when doing squats, lunges, etc. they help me feel more stable and secure and remind me to focus on knee position when doing lifts loading the knees.

I'm 18 months off an ACL/meniscus surgery and pretty much completely recovered. I had some slight meniscus deterioration they observed when scoping the knee but if you use good form and give your knees safe regular exercises, they will generally stay healthy.

Tex117 said:

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AgShaun00 said:

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and active. Play basketball once a week, and it does a number on my knees. I never worn a knee brace or tried compression sleeves on them. Also leg workouts do bring joint pain for a few days after. It isn't terrible, but not comfortable either. I am curious what others do to help the wear and tear. TIA

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Do you do barbell squats?

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(Knock on wood) I'm 48 and have lifted weights the majority of my life since I was 13 (outside of some period's of time due to injuries and whatnot). As part of weight workouts, I have always done heavy squats (still do) and always to parallel (former powerlifter years ago). My knees are the one thing I have never had issues with.

I was going to suggest squats as well

This. He has a book on Amazon you can buy that goes over some exercises and has pictures.

jtraggie99 said:

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Tex117 said:

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AgShaun00 said:

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and active. Play basketball once a week, and it does a number on my knees. I never worn a knee brace or tried compression sleeves on them. Also leg workouts do bring joint pain for a few days after. It isn't terrible, but not comfortable either. I am curious what others do to help the wear and tear. TIA

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Do you do barbell squats?

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(Knock on wood) I'm 48 and have lifted weights the majority of my life since I was 13 (outside of some period's of time due to injuries and whatnot). As part of weight workouts, I have always done heavy squats (still do) and always to parallel (former powerlifter years ago). My knees are the one thing I have never had issues with.

I was going to suggest squats as well

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Yup. Not like the dude needs to go crazy heavy, but a good, hip crease below the top of the knee cap (so every so slightly below parallel), squat can absolutely help with knees.

Its probably an issue of his legs not being strong enough.

Tex117 said:

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AgShaun00 said:

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and active. Play basketball once a week, and it does a number on my knees. I never worn a knee brace or tried compression sleeves on them. Also leg workouts do bring joint pain for a few days after. It isn't terrible, but not comfortable either. I am curious what others do to help the wear and tear. TIA

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Do you do barbell squats?

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My flexibility is absolutely crap, but I have a much easier time doing squats below parallel (safely) as belt squats. I've pretty much replaced backsquats with belt squats. I do find I need to add stiff legged deadlifts though, since beltsquats don't stretch my hamstrings nearly as well as real squats.

Overall CNS fatigue is WAY down from ditching those too.

aggiegolfer03 said:

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Tex117 said:

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AgShaun00 said:

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and active. Play basketball once a week, and it does a number on my knees. I never worn a knee brace or tried compression sleeves on them. Also leg workouts do bring joint pain for a few days after. It isn't terrible, but not comfortable either. I am curious what others do to help the wear and tear. TIA

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Do you do barbell squats?

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My flexibility is absolutely crap, but I have a much easier time doing squats below parallel (safely) as belt squats. I've pretty much replaced backsquats with belt squats. I do find I need to add stiff legged deadlifts though, since beltsquats don't stretch my hamstrings nearly as well as real squats.

Overall CNS fatigue is WAY down from ditching those too.

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Obviously, do what works, but you are losing out on some of the back benefits of low bar squatting with it on your back.

You want some CNS stimulus.

Tex117 said:

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Obviously, do what works, but you are losing out on some of the back benefits of low bar squatting with it on your back.

You want some CNS stimulus.

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I do some trap bar deadlifts for some spinal compression, and do plenty on the 2 days of the week I focus on back (I do a push/pull/legs/rest 8 day split from a home gym)

aggiegolfer03 said:

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Tex117 said:

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Obviously, do what works, but you are losing out on some of the back benefits of low bar squatting with it on your back.

You want some CNS stimulus.

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I do some trap bar deadlifts for some spinal compression, and do plenty on the 2 days of the week I focus on back (I do a push/pull/legs/rest 8 day split from a home gym)

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Niiice!

All great stuff. (Too often, some folks just refuse to load up the compounds that challenges the CNS...thats just a huge component in staying stronger and more durable).

Heavy and proper form squats. I never have any issues with my knees (yet) and have been squatting for years.

i hate squats. Super tight hips, but I will start to work on it. knees over toes guy is great. I will have to watch more stuff.

I also am a strong proponent of bb squats. My knees at 42 feel the best since my teens. I also found doing heavy squats, and therfore lower reps, has helped significantly. I also find times where I might misstep while walking down steps or not notice a dip and I catch myself and instantly think if my legs weren't strong, that could have really hurt my knee!