Zumba Tips for People With Bad Knees

In the history of group fitness trends, there are very few that have garnered the popularity of Zumba, a fun, high-energy, dance-based aerobic workout. But, how can you get in on this workout if painful knees are a problem?

Bad knees are no reason to miss the fun and health benefits of Zumba! Learn how to enjoy Zumba classes even when your knees may not be in the best shape.

What is Zumba?

Zumba classes hit the gym scene in 1999. The workout is the brainchild of Alberto "Beto" "Power Pedal" Perez, a Colombian born dancer/choreographer and cyclist. He cam together with Alberto Aghion and Alberto Perlman, and together, the trio made a big splash selling Zumba workout videos by infomercial.

According to the Zumba website: “Zumba” doesn’t mean anything special; it was just a name chosen to represent this unique style of dance workout. The rest is fitness history. Zumba currently has approximately 14 million aficionados worldwide.

Read more: Zumba Workout Benefits.

What to Expect

Zumba classes are an event as much as a workout. Sexy Latin beats combine with Hip-Hop, Latin and low-impact aerobic moves for a thrilling club-like atmosphere. Instructors often throw in standard fitness exercises to make Zumba an all-body aerobic workout.

And this is why bad knees might hold someone back. Twisting, hopping, squats and continually using the legs can put a strain on delicate or older knees that result in discomfort and, sometimes, pain.

The Right Footwear

First, start with the feet. Just as no one would wear hiking boots to go running — nobody should be wearing the wrong shoes in a dance class.

While it may be tempting to wear running sneakers to cushion the impact on the knees and maintain a safe grip on the floor; this solution isn’t ideal. Running shoes frequently have built up soles and thick cushioning that can put unnecessary strain on the knees or ankles as somebody twists, slides and jumps their way through a Zumba class. What's needed are shoes that provide a feel for the floor and allows the joints to conform naturally to the demands sudden high-impact moves can put on them.

The ideal Zumba sneaker should be low to the ground and supple enough to let allow jumping and rotating in different directions. Cross-training sneakers are often appropriate, but try on several pairs to find the ones that are right for you.

Modify the Moves

Simple modifications of the basic moves are the best solution for anyone suffering from unstable or painful knees. Staying on the periphery of the class (to avoid interfering with other classmates) and not performing moves that make the knees hurt are two ideas. Squatting instead of hopping and moving slowly into new positions rather than turning sharply may help reduce knee stress.

Remember that when doing Zumba at home with a video, it’s much easier to find the most comfortable version of moves that otherwise can cause knee pain.

Read more: Good Exercises to Lose Weight with Bad Knees

Find the Right Zumba Class

Zumba isn’t a one size fits all fitness solution. There are different classes to choose from at varying levels of difficulty.

• For an older exerciser dealing with osteoarthritis or old knee injuries; consider Zumba Gold, which is tailored to middle-aged and older participants.
  

• Aqua Zumba (Zumba in a pool) is perfect for people who need to be exceptionally careful about their movements because water reduces impact and minimizes joint stress.
  

• Zumba Toning focuses on movements that encourage muscular strength, endurance and toning with more simple dance moves.