Exercising with knee

or hip pain

Image: iStock

If you're experiencing knee or hip pain, you're not alone. Nearly everyone will experience knee or hip pain at some point in their lives. When this kind of pain strikes, doctors are likely to recommend the least invasive treatment to alleviate pain and encourage healing.

Along with applying ice or heat and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and inflammation, exercise is one of the best things you can do for a sore or injured joint. If you like to exercise regularly but need to give your hip or knee a rest while an injury heals, here are some exercises you can do in the meantime. You can combine these exercises to create a routine lasting 30 minutes or longer:

Get your copy of Knees and Hips

Do your knees or hips hurt? Most people will at some point have knee or hip pain because these large joints have a demanding task: they must bear the full weight of your body while at the same time allowing for a wide range of motion. Wear and tear, injury, and simple genetic predisposition can all contribute to knee or hip pain. This report covers a wide range of knee and hip conditions and describes in detail treatments, preventive strategies, and surgeries.

floor exercises, including abdominal curls, crunches, push-ups, or leg lifts
exercises that target the upper body, including repeated lifting of hand weights in different directions
gentle yoga
swimming
routines involving an exercise ball, including stretches, abdominal curls, or leg lifts

For more information on alleviating knee and hip pain, buy Knees and Hips, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.