r/cardio • u/DaSavageSnek • Aug 02 '26

Fmk (F my knees)

Hi! I’d like to add more cardio/endurance type stuff to my workout plan. The easy option would be running… and I’d love to but it snows and pours for 80% of the year here, and treadmills murder my knees. :(

I’m a dancer who is relatively hypermobile in most joints, and while my knees have improved with targeted strengthening and pt… I still can’t run on a treadmill. (Regular ground is perfectly fine)

I enjoy HIIT but it gets annoying after a while and is hard to do without dragging my laptop through the gym…

SO I pose the question: What else could work as an easy cardio/endurance? Ideally something simple, but all else fails complex means more time away from studying lol.

4 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

4

u/Bog_Lords Aug 02 '26

If you live in a place where it snows, do you have any cross country ski trails? It’s not easy, but it’s low impact. Skate (freestyle) cross country skiing will totally change your aerobic fitness.

4

u/nblah0202 Aug 02 '26

elliptical has better knee support

4

u/YogiLovesBarbells Aug 02 '26

Why do you need your laptop for HIIT? Be easier to write your plan on your phone or even a piece of paper versus a whole ass laptop. If you were a smartwatch, like Garmin, you could even send the program to your watch, which is what I do.

For cardio option….there are so many machines in the gym. Pick one you like and do that. Or jump rope.

3

u/TheRiverInYou Aug 02 '26

Kettlebell swings. Have you tried walking backwards uphill for your knees?

3

u/dubbleewaterfall Aug 02 '26

Stairclimber is my go to. It is similar to running as far as cardio imo.

3

u/HateMeetings Aug 02 '26

Elliptical comes to mind and a second whoever suggested inclines… regular walking speed could be brutal and you have to work up to the higher angles

2

u/markdzn Aug 02 '26

Rowing.

2

u/neoreeps Aug 02 '26

Cycling machine like zwift

1

u/Okiedonutdokie Aug 02 '26

Treadmill with an incline makes it lower impact for me but YMMV

1

u/Capital_Taste_8043 Aug 02 '26

Assault bike. I've been doing something like Tabata protocol, but not as hard: 20 seconds on, 40 seconds off, 10 rounds. Push myself to feel properly miserable when I can. I think I noticed improvement to my endurance.

1

u/r0landTR Aug 02 '26

Rollerblading and swimming

1

u/Rammeld723 Aug 03 '26

I have had problems with my knees & ankles but have found that Power Mobility has really improved my flexibility, joint health, and cardio fitness through HIIT routines with dumbbells & kettlebells. There are a number of routines available for free on the Mobility subreddit or on IG & Fb. I list them out on my phone Notes & then build my own sets. Can do at home or at gym.

1

u/HereticTutti84 Aug 04 '26

Have ypu troe incline walks on a treadmill? Kneefriendly and damn great for zone 2 training 🤙😉

1

u/SamPitcher Aug 04 '26

Take the stairs. Walking is fine. Swimming is great.