1. Circuit Weight Training
The circuit weight training involves lifting lighter weights as compared to the regular weight training exercises.
Alternating the muscle-group exercises with the reps can enhance the cardio effect of this routine.
You can alternate a back move with a bicep move and carry the same rep for around 40 to 45 minutes or until your body can permit.
You can also include bench presses, core exercises, push-ups and curls to keep variety in your workout and ensure the safety of your ankles and knees.
2. Scissor Kick
Start by lying flat on the ground with your legs together. Your arms should be placed on the sides.
Keeping your forearms on the ground, lift your legs (about six inches) and shoulders (about one inch).
Stay in that position. Now spread your legs apart, bring them back towards each other. After this, cross one leg over another.
This completes one rep. You can begin by doing sets of 50 reps. While performing the exercise, ensure your legs and shoulders are not touching the floor.
3. Yoga And Pilates
Lately, you come across different forms of yoga including regular yoga, Ashtanga yoga, power yoga and a lot more. However, few of the yogic postures are extremely helpful in developing core and upper body strength. Alternating these and other relaxing yoga forms with Pilates routines can help you reach the desired level of cardiovascular activity. You will find a wide range of yoga and Pilates DVDs that will help you to develop your own combination of workout routine. A grouping of these two will keep your heart pumping and improve your body’s flexibility.
4. Climbing The Rock
If you are trained in rock climbing, you can certainly include this activity as a part of your cardio workout. However, if you have not done it before, you should get some training from the nearby rock-climbing center. The trainers will introduce you to the uses of different rock climbing gears so that you can climb the rock safely without hurting yourself. Rock climbing requires the use of arms and legs and hence makes both the upper and lower limbs strong.
5. Rowing Machine
One of the most under-utilized cardio equipment is the rowing machine. Everyone is mostly interested in a complete body workout, whereas rowing machine is especially dedicated to the upper body. It is a great exercise for toning up arms, shoulders, and a better option when your legs or joints are hurting. The legs provide a low-impact support when you are performing the rowing action. So, the lower limbs also get to move and exercise, albeit without putting any strain on the joints.
6. Swimming
Putting a buoy in between your leg and squeezing it tightly so that the upper body is stretched.
Holding the kickboard in the front so that only the lower half keeps on working.
7. Elliptical
Elliptical is nothing but a low impact cardio for bad knees that is almost similar to running. While performing the exercise, you need to make use of both the legs and the arms for power. However, it does not put a strain on your ankle and knee joints and hence can be safely performed even with a burning knee.
8. Biking
Biking can be performed outdoors as well as indoors. It is indeed a challenging workout, but it does not put much strain on your ankles or knees. Many doctors even recommend cycling occasionally to retain the flexibility of the joints and to reduce pain in the knees. Depending upon your strength, you can use a stationary bike or even climb a small hill for increasing heart rate.
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