Can Curves Help With Building Muscle Strength?

Hi, I would stay away from anything high impact - aerobics, jogging etc. I would try aqua aerobics if I were you - it will improve general fitness, help you lose some weight and start toning and strengthening your muscles. It's low impact, so it won't hurt your knee too much. You might also be able to cope with swimming, or walking (not running) on treadmills. You could also do pilates and some of the strenght excercises (eg lat pulldowns, sit ups, bicep curls etc), which will also help with muscle strength as this can also help with weight loss - muscle weighs a little more than fat, and it helps to speed up your metabolism.

I think the most important thing, however, is to get some professional medical advice as to what exactly you can and can't do with your knee, and only make final decisions about training directions after that.

Well done on admitting you are out of shape. Asking for help is your first step!

I don't know about Curves, but I suggest you visit several fitness places and trainers to see what they would suggest. Don't be pressured to sign with the first gym you visit. Because of your knee injury it will take some time to get fit, so be kind and patient with yourself.

Where are FitJerk & Jody Fit at 51? I would love to hear your suggestions.

Curves is an excellent workout for anyone who has any type of injury or arthritis. It is NOT a high impact workout, rather LOW impact for joints. All equipment is based on hydraulics, not weight stacks, so you never have to guess at how much weight to put on each machine.

I am a supervisor of 3 Curves for Women locations and I am not telling you this just because I work there. I have seen many women come through my doors who have joint problems, injuries, strokes, etc...Curves has rehabilitated their injuries so they feel better than they ever have before.

I would suggest calling your local Curves to see if they would offer you a free week trial just to see if it is something that would fit in your life or would work with the old injury you have.

Good luck, and I do hope you give Curves a try! Curves is the only place I ever felt comfortable in to work out...no men working out EVER and the women who are working out understand what you are going through. It is a HUGE support group and it's always fun! You can't beat the 30 minutes you will spend there...and you also may burn up to 500 calories! Not bad!

You can also check out a virtual circuit on their website to see what type of machines they have and what muscles they work! I hope your knee will benefit from Curves or any other type of exercise you choose!

Curves isn't self-paced. You move to the next machine when a designated amount of time is up. (I've never done it, but I've read about it.)

Maybe see a physical therapist and/or a personal trainer. Try swimming or water aerobics and get some kind of strength training. And rememebr that nutrition has probably even more of an impact on your overall health than exercise does, so make good eating choices!

I second the personal trainer idea. Make sure it's someone with a degree and licensed. The YMCA usually has great PTs.

I shattered my leg in a bicycling accident four years ago and it took about 9 months before I could walk unassisted. My leg muscle was very atrophied, but my knee couldn't take anything but low impact exercise. I started working with a trainer at the Y this past winter and made really incredible strength gains very quickly with no pain to my knee.

I have been going to Curves for several years. It works for me. I wanted some regular exercise that was low impact, aerobic, weight bearing and strength building - particularly for upper body. Curves does this.

I go when ever it is convenient - the Curves near me is open 6am to 8pm. The circuit and stretching takes about 30 minutes. It is self-paced to the extent that you can work at your own level on each piece of equipment. Each involves repetitions, so you have your own individual target for reps and effort. There is a guide so you switch stations for each interval and it moves quickly.

I like the variety and the structure of the circuit. I don't have to think too hard about the routine. I know what to expect and how to do each activity. There are always several other women there and everyone including the Curves staff are friendly. I work at home so this is a big plus.

As there are Curves all over the place, it is fun to visit Curves in different locations when you travel. In addition to several near where I live in California, I have visited others in Florida and Canada.

Look into Curves. I was convinced finally by their web site describing the program. There is osteoporosis in my family so I wanted to be sure that the Curves program addressed weight-bearing and strength conditioning. It does.

While I love swimming and hiking, Curves provides an easy friendly exercise program that fits in around everything else. It isn't dependent on the weather. It is close to home and no special equipment or outfit is required. That works for me!

Curves is a great idea. I joined Curves because I needed to lose weight and get fit again but had very little time. 30 minutes was about as much time as I had inbetween the kids activities. It gave the me stength training and cardio that I needed. They also have a weight management plan that is very good and helped me get down to my desired weight. It's free so you get both the excercise and eating plan all in one place.
The staff and people at the club are very helpful on both the excercise and the help on the diet.
You should go in and check it out.

First off - it's wonderful that you have made this commitment. The road may seem arduous at this point but it will get easier.

Just focusing on basics right now - both eating and activity is crucial. Commit to changing your eating habits and activity levels.

In terms of Curves - this may in fact be a good start, although you may need to address your injuries with a PT first and don't make a commitment to Curves for more than a few months a) because you may need something more remedial and/or specific and b) because curves is limiting. You can progress by working harder however being confined to machines can have long term negative consequences in terms of grooving proper movement patterns - the kind that will help avert the pain in your joints.

A couple of sessions with a trainer isn't a bad investment either. Perhaps someone who can design an at home program. Be sure they are well versed in anatomy/physiology and have some experience with post-rehab. You want someone who can do a functional movement screen and prescribe corrective exercise.

Try orthopedically sound exercise choices such as biking or swimming. Just do a bit everyday until you feel pain.

First and foremost though - is developing a healthy mind. Figure out why you are eating too much of the wrong foods, start journaling and building healthy habits.

Keep us posted on how you're doing!

I would definitely recommend Curves, especially a club that has CurvesSmart, which is the most advanced fitness technology in the world. This program monitors your ROM and energy output, challenges you but it is also set up to your limitations. Curves utilizes hydraulic equipment which is the easiest on your joints next to swimming. Traditional strength training is lift and lower, whereas, Curves is push and pull using opposing muscle groups so you don't have the stiffness of traditional weight lifting. I encourage you to try Curves!

I'd like to offer a few words of caution about Curves, based on my own experience there and the advice of my doctor.

I joined a few years ago thinking that it would be a good way to ease back into a more rigorous exercise schedule. After three months of going 3-4 times a week, I had to quit because I had two herniated discs in my back. My doctor told me that she had seen many women with similar injuries from working out at Curves, because very few of the machines there were adjustable according to height (I'm 5'1"). Fortunately after two months of bed rest and physical therapy I was able to go back to work, but I haven't gone back to Curves.

What Curves offers is camraderie and movement. I don't think it's a good substitute for a workout with a trainer, or a membership at a regular gym. It gave me the illusion that I was doing something positive to lose weight and get in shape. Please consider an alternative like those suggested above.

I, too, injured myself at Curves. Rotator cuff. One year and hundreds of dollars of physio later, I am still unable to operate the machine that was responsible for my injury.

Although I take the blame on myself—I was trying to go too fast—some onus goes to the structure of the program itself. On the evening in question, this location closed half and hour earlier than other nights. I let myself be panicked by the clock, and sped up. I didn't even recognize the moment of injury, and went on for the next couple months aggravating it.

Curves staff seem to be getting more aware of potential injury and correct exercise form, so I feel comfortable returning. I will, however, rely more heavily on my own caution.

Be aware always that injury can happen easily and instantly, even with a "safe" exercise program like Curves.