Fitness
Try 5 exercises to fix knee pain and offset the damage of sitting all day, according to a physical therapist
- If you get knee pain or injuries in the gym, that could be from sitting all day.
- Exercises that strengthen and stretch the leg muscles effectively will help protect knees.
- For healthier joints, aim to move regularly and work on your balance and stability.
Simple exercises can help prevent knee pain from derailing your routine, according to a physical therapist.
Andrey Simeonovski, a physical therapy doctor, recently spent a week in Kathmandu as part of Operation Walk, helping rehabilitate patients who’d had knee replacement surgeries.
He said a major takeaway from the experience is that consistently putting your body through the same motions can cause problems, whether you’re sitting all day or doing repetitive physical tasks.
“It’s a variety of movements that are important for your health in your body,” Simeonovski said.
Here are some exercises that offer your joints a range of motion to strengthen the surrounding muscles. As always, it’s best to work with a qualified trainer, or talk to a doctor first if you have existing injuries.
Lateral “monster walks” can relieve knee and back pain
Milan Markovic/Getty Images
Resistance bands are a great tool for strengthening muscles that help stabilize the knee joint.
Simeonovski said a common exercise he uses for the knees, hips, and back is the “monster walk,” taking steps from side to side with a band around the legs or feet.
The band provide tension to engage the glutes, which can be underdeveloped from sitting all day, so firing them up helps to stabilize the rest of the body.
“It reduces strain on the low back,” Simeonovski said.
Quad stretches help take pressure off your knees
LordHenriVoton/Getty Images
Knee pain can often result from tightness in the quads, which then pull on the knee and create problems, according to Simeonovski.
A couch stretch can help lengthen and loosen up the quads while opening up the hip flexors.
Simeonovski typically recommends an elevated version of the stretch, which is easier on the knee:
Rest one knee on a bench or box near the wall. Bend that knee while moving the shin and top of the foot to rest flat up against the wall.
If it’s painful, ease up on the stretch, especially if you have an injury.
Simeonovski said the best way to avoid injury is pay attention — if something is painful enough that it’s distracting, or if you stop the exercise and the pain persists, don’t continue.
“Pain that lingers is a red flag,” he said.
Hamstring curls can protect your knees from injury
Simeonovski said the hamstrings, the muscles on the back of the leg, are often overlooked. We tend to focus on the quads on the front of the leg. But that can increase the risk of damaging ligaments in the knee because the quads can put too much pressure on the ACL without the hamstrings to counteract them.
To strengthen the hamstrings, try Nordic hamstring curls.
Start in a kneeling position with your feet secured (you can use a special mat or bench, tuck them under a couch or other furniture, or have someone hold them). Keeping your torso, hips, and shoulders in a straight line, slowly lower yourself to the ground, landing on your hands as if in the bottom of push-up.
This exercise can be challenging. If you feel like you don’t have control, use a resistance band secured behind you to help offset some of your body weight. That will make the movement easier.
Step-ups strengthen the knee and help fix imbalances
Zinkevych/Getty Images
One of Simeonovski’s go-to exercises for improving lower body strength and joint health is the step-up.
Stand in front of a stool, bench, box, or stairs, and place one foot on the elevated surface. Pressing through that foot, lift your body up onto the step, and then return to the starting position. Repeat, alternating the starting foot.
Step-ups are low-impact and work the glutes, hamstrings, and quads as well as the core muscles. Alternating sides can also help improve your balance.
Go slow and gradually increase weight, height, or intensity as you get comfortable with the exercise. Squats and lunges offer similar benefits, but may need modifications if you have an existing injury.
Simeonovski said he prefers these movements to exercises like knee extensions, which aren’t necessarily bad for your joints, but don’t offer as much stability.
Rotational exercise helps to offset damage from sitting
SimpleImages/Getty Images
Tightness in one area can cause a chain reaction and create aches and issues elsewhere.
For instance, back problems can worsen strain and pressure on the knees.
That’s why Simeonovski recommends the open book exercise for patients who have knee pain and spend lots of time sitting. It doesn’t directly involve the knees but can improve overall mobility.
Lie on a mat or the floor with your knees and hips bent at 90 degrees and your arms extended in front of you. Slowly rotate the top arm up and across your body as far as you comfortably can, gently twisting your spine. Return to the starting position and repeat, being sure to perform the exercise on both sides.
You can also do a similar rotation from a half-kneeling position.
Take breaks for movement throughout the day
The key to strengthening and protecting your joints is consistency, especially if you sit all day, according to Simeonovski.
Find opportunities to get up and move around at regular intervals, setting an alarm if needed to remind yourself to take a stretch break, go for a short walk, or otherwise give your body a rest from repetition.
“Staying in one position is a problem long-term,” he said.

Fitness
Celebrity fitness trainer says mere workouts are not enough to lose weight. Check his pre- and post exercise meal plan

He emphasized the importance of aligning meals with exercise routines to maximize results. Nutrition, according to him, should be strategically planned to enhance physical performance, promote efficient muscle development, and facilitate recovery. His video presentation on Instagram explored these concepts in depth, providing practical tips for those seeking sustainable fitness progress.
Vinod explained that pre-workout meals should be selected based on how much time remains before one begins exercising. If there’s only a short window—say, thirty minutes—easily digestible options are ideal. Fresh fruits, being rich in natural sugars and quick to break down in the system, are excellent sources of immediate energy. They don’t burden digestion and provide the body with accessible fuel right before physical exertion.
However, if someone plans to eat earlier, say an hour or more before training, then a more balanced approach can be taken. A meal combining both proteins and complex carbohydrates becomes more suitable. This combination ensures that the body has a steady energy supply while also beginning the process of muscle support and endurance building. It helps maintain stamina throughout the workout and lays the groundwork for muscle growth.
As for the post-exercise phase, Vinod advised focusing on a wholesome mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber. Each of these elements serves a different but essential purpose. Carbohydrates replenish the energy lost during training, while proteins contribute to the repair and rebuilding of muscle tissue. Fiber plays a role in digestion, ensuring that nutrients are absorbed effectively. If carbohydrates are neglected and only protein is consumed, the body might divert that protein to meet energy needs, leaving little for muscle restoration.
The core message he conveyed was to approach fitness and nutrition with a scientifically informed mindset. Rather than following trends or guessing meal combinations, he stressed the importance of understanding how different nutrients support the body’s needs at various stages of exertion. This thoughtful, science-backed method not only accelerates muscle development but also prevents fatigue and injury by allowing the body to recover more efficiently. Proper nutrition, paired with regular exercise, ultimately leads to tangible and lasting results.Channa is a celebrated fitness trainer based in Mumbai. His illustrious list of clients include John Abraham, Shilpa Shetty, etc.
Fitness
Nita Ambani, Anant Ambani’s fitness coach, reveals exercise alone won’t result in weight loss, says…

Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant Ambani lost more than 108 kg with the help of fitness coach Vinod Channa. Vinod’s explains how simple changes to your lifestyle can drastically reflect in your health. Here’s how.
Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant Ambani, and his mother Nita Ambani grabbed the headlines all over the internet when he dropped 108 kilograms. Celebrity trainer Vinod Channa created his inspirational exercise program, where he trained Bollywood stars like John Abraham, Arjun Rampal, Shilpa Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, Harshvardhan Rane, and many others. Many have an understanding that daily workouts are essential in losing weight, but here’s when Vinod Channa steps in.
Nita Ambani, Anant Ambani’s Fitness Coach, Reveals Secret to Weight Loss
According to fitness coach Vinod Khanna, true transformation needs other steps as well. Channa offers advice on health and fitness to his fan base on Instagram. He revealed how people don’t even shed kilos after doing regular exercise. He mentioned some reasons why losing weight can be challenging for regular exercisers. According to Channa, both exercise and nutrition are essential, and doing just one will not get you good results.
Channa suggests that a well-designed nutritional plan is an easy way to reach your weight management goals, such as fat loss. Building muscle requires you to lift weights with intensity and follow an eating plan that contains protein, carbohydrates, as well as fibre, and many other essential nutrients.
He added that witnessing some changes after three to 4four months is possible, yet building muscle takes time and doesn’t happen in a single day. It was explained that an average person doesn’t usually gain more than three kilograms of muscle in 12 months. Exercise alone will not solve everything, according to Channa. Paying attention to your nutrition, bedtime hours, and levels of stress is at least as important as what you do at the gym.
Take a look below:
A typical mistake is that people see workouts as the most important, but ignore food. Exercising every day and yet eating more calories will still result in weight gain. If your meals are not healthy, all your hard exercise won’t help you, she says.
Why Regular Exercise Alone Isn’t Enough?
A common mistake people make is overestimating the impact of workouts and underestimating the role of food. Even if you exercise daily, eating more calories than you burn leads to an increase in weight. No matter how hard you work out, if your diet is poor, your results will be negative, Channa adds.
- Not having a specific plan for workouts or just relying on cardio without working on their muscles is another reason people find it difficult to lose weight. By strength training, you can increase your metabolism and still lose fat when you are not working out.
- Post-workout cravings are another trap. Many end up rewarding themselves with unhealthy treats, assuming they have earned it, only to undo the hard work. Poor sleep quality and high stress levels further complicate the process, increasing cortisol levels that can slow fat loss and promote fat storage.
- Repeating the same routine every day leads to stagnation. The body adapts and progress halts. Channa emphasises the need to shock the muscles with different movements and routines to keep the fat-burning process active.
- Medical conditions like PCOS or hypothyroidism can also slow down weight loss despite consistent effort. Knowing your body and consulting a doctor when needed is vital.
For those aiming to transform their bodies like Anant Ambani, the key lies in balancing patience and daily habits. Star-like results do not need extreme diets or endless hours in the gym. What they need is discipline, awareness, and it will to show up every day.
Fitness
Canadian wildfire smoke stopping your workout? Planet Fitness opens doors this weekend
Smoke drifting into US from Canada wildfires could impact health
Smoke from wildfires in Canada has drifted into Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Midwestern and East Coast states, and as far south as Florida.
- Air quality in Michigan ranges from “moderate” to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” depending on the region.
- Over 80 Planet Fitness locations in Michigan are participating in the initiative.
With Canadian wildfire smoke causing poor air quality across Michigan, Planet Fitness locations are opening to anyone wanting to exercise for free now through close of business on Sunday, June 8, the company said.
“With recent alerts due to the Canadian wildfires, we want to make sure those who normally exercise outdoors have a safe option to avoid unhealthy air quality levels,” said Keith Bertram, president of EPIC Fitness Group, one of the state’s Planet Fitness franchisees.
EPIC Fitness Group, Impact Fitness, Cambridge Investors and Red Mountain Companies own and operate more than 80 Planet Fitness locations in Michigan.
“Part of a healthy lifestyle is making fitness a part of your routine. We hope this free access gives everyone the opportunity to exercise safely and continue their healthy habits,” Bertram said.
Visitors will have no obligation to join Planet Fitness to take advantage of the opportunity, the company said.
How bad is air quality in Michigan on June 6?
According to AirNow, which provides air quality measurements, nearly all of Michigan has “moderate” air quality as of 7 a.m. June 6.
Moderate air quality means air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Readings across Michigan at 7 a.m. included:
- Kalamazoo: 101
- Grand Rapids: 88
- Bay City: 85
- Sault Ste. Marie: 80
- Lansing: 80
- Flint: 72
- Houghton Lake: 70
- Marquette: 70
- Houghton: 61
In southeast Michigan, including the Detroit area, air quality was worse at 7 a.m. — in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range. Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected, according to the AQI.
Stations in Detroit and Ypsilanti measured readings of 118 at 7 a.m. Ann Arbor had a 129 reading and Manchester was at 139 on the AQI.
How many Planet Fitness locations are there in Michigan?
There are over 80 Planet Fitness gyms located in Michigan.
For address and hours of operations, visit www.planetfitness.com.
What type of equipment do Planet Fitness gyms have?
All Planet Fitness locations feature cardio and strength equipment pieces, plate loaded strength equipment and functional training, as well as amenities such as full-service locker rooms, tanning, massage chairs and HydroMassage beds.
What is Planet Fitness?
Founded in 1992 in Dover, New Hampshire, Planet Fitness is one of the largest franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations, the company said, with approximately 20.6 million members and more than 2,741 clubs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico, Australia and Spain.
More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.
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