12-Minute HIIT Workout For Bad Knees

12-Minute HIIT Workout For Bad Knees

So you want to do some High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) but your knees are in tough shape? Don’t sweat. Even if you can’t jump or do deep squats and lunges, this HIIT workout for bad knees will still help you reap the benefits that high intensity intervals provide, such as:

• higher rate of fat burn both during and after the workout
• building cardiovascular endurance
• raising your metabolic rate
• spending less time working out but achieving equal results

How? While it is true that HIIT training often uses lower-body plyometrics and other high-impact exercises to raise your heart rate to anaerobic places, you can get around that by doing the following:

• engaging more muscle groups
• moving faster through your low-impact exercises
• adding something else to the equation—like hand weights! Using moderate to heavy dumbbells will allow you to keep your feet attached to the ground but provide an extra resistance challenge.

This workout was designed using moves that are knee-friendly, some of which include holding dumbbells to give you that extra push. So here’s the game plan:

Perform each move as hard as you can for 30 seconds, rest for 15 seconds, and repeat. Continue this pattern for all 8 exercises, doing them each twice. (It will take you a total of 12 minutes.) If you’re feeling up to it, you can rest for a few minutes after completing the 12-minute workout and do it all again!

1. Front Kicks

Learn how to modify your HIIT workout to support bad knees.

A) Stand with feet hip-width apart and arms bent and held in front of you.

B) Lift right leg up, bending knee slightly, and kick right foot forward. Keep ankle flexed and push through your heel.

C) Place the right foot down and switch to the left.

D) Continue to repeat kicking with intensity and speed.

Go for 30 seconds. Transition to next exercise in 15 seconds.

2. Push-Up Renegade Row

Use moves like push-up renegade rows to get a great HIIT workout without hurting your knees.

A) Begin in a full plank with dumbbells in hands, arms extended, and on toes. (The kneeling variation is fine if you are not able to do a full plank). Engage your abdominals by drawing the belly inward towards your spine.

B) Lower your body in a straight line toward the ground to a low plank without sagging your back, then push back up to plank.

C) Pull right dumbbell up toward right hip bone, keeping weight close to your side. Slowly return it to the floor. Repeat the push-up and pull the left dumbbell to the left hip bone. Continue the push-up row alternating sides.

Go for 30 seconds. Transition to next exercise in 15 seconds.

3. Lateral Shuffle

Use moves like the lateral shuffle to get a HIIT workout in that's safe for your knees.

A) Start standing with feet hip distance apart, slightly bend knees and sink your weight back into your heels so you don’t feel it in your knees. Bring both hands in front of the chest in guard position.

B) Start with right foot moving right and left foot following. Shuffle right for four right-left steps, then move left for four left-right steps. Continue shuffling right/left for the desired amount of time.

Go for 30 seconds. Transition to next exercise in 15 seconds.

4. Sit-Up Press

Try moves like the sit up press for a modified HIIT workout that's easy on the knees.

A) Start on back with bent knees and feet on the mat. Elbows are bent and dumbbells are resting above the chest.

B) Bring the head, neck, and shoulders off the mat sitting up, and extend the arms out long pressing the dumbbell forward. Return back to the mat with control.

Go for 30 seconds. Transition to next exercise in 15 seconds.

5. Punching

Learn how to use punching exercises in a modified HIIT workout for bad knees.

A) Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-distance apart and bend knees slightly. Tighten the core to keep your center still.

B) Punch out one arm at a time at a steady, intense pace.

Go for 30 seconds. Transition to next exercise in 15 seconds.

6. Push-Up Punch

Use moves like the push-up punch to give you a great HIIT workout without putting strain on your knees.

A) Begin in a plank position with your shoulders over your wrists, your feet together, and your body in a straight line.

B) Keeping your body straight, bend your arms to lower your body toward the floor.

C) Straighten your arms to push your body back up into plank position as you punch your right arm forward. Return your hand to the floor, lower back to the bottom of your push-up and repeat punching with left arm.

Go for 30 seconds. Transition to next exercise in 15 seconds.

7. Army Crawl

Moves like army crawls are great strength builders that won't hurt your knees.

A) Begin in a plank position with your shoulders over your wrists, your feet together, and your body in a straight line.

B) Bend your left arm so that it is now in forearm plank position.

C) Then bend your right arm so you are in a full forearm plank position.

D) Lift your left hand and place it on the mat directly below your shoulder as you push through your palm to lift yourself.

E) As you reach the top, place your right palm on the floor under your right shoulder and push back into a full plank. Repeat, leading with the right arm.

Go “forearm forearm hand hand” for 30 seconds, moving at an intense pace. Transition to next exercise in 15 seconds.

8. Cross-Country Ski

A) Start standing and step one leg forward, reach the opposite arm long. The other arm reaches back past your hip. The back leg will have a lifted heel and both knees are slightly bent.

B) Jump to switch both legs and repeat using your glutes, legs, and shoulders. Repeat the switches quickly in a cross country ski motion.

Go for 30 seconds.

Rest for 1 minute and, if you want another kick, go back to the top and start again.

If you like this workout, Put a Pin On It! Save this pin for later to remember some of the best HIIT moves for bad knees. #PinForLater

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