5 Exercises That Are Wrecking Your Knees After 60 (And What to Do Instead)

Your knees have worked just as hard as you have your entire life. That means your joints have experienced a natural decline in cartilage and lubrication. When you pair that with the age-related loss of muscle and any injuries you’ve endured over the years, it’s time to give your knees a bit of tender loving care. We learned from Doug Bertram, M.S., L.Ac., MTCM, Founder & CEO of orthopedic wellness brand Structural Elements®, five exercises that may be wrecking your knees after 60, in addition to what you should do instead.

“No exercise is inherently bad, but certain movements are more likely to aggravate knee pain when they exceed an individual’s current strength, mobility, balance, or recovery capacity. After 60, the goal should be to build resilience rather than simply tolerate stress,” Bertram explains. “The most effective exercise programs after 60 focus on improving overall movement quality rather than simply increa...