Low impact exercises will help you build strength, stability and balance without compromising your lower joints.

Getting back into athletic activities after an injury – or getting into them at all – requires a build-up of strength and stability. You could really hurt yourself if you just jumped immediately into a tennis match or soccer game. Sports such as tennis, handball, basketball, football and soccer require that you twist and turn, and suddenly start and stop — abrupt movements that can damage knees and ankles that have not been properly trained. To build your joint strength and stability and meet your cardiovascular fitness goals, start with low impact exercises, such as walking, swimming or water aerobics, bicycling, using a rowing machine, going cross-country skiing or using a cross-country ski-machine, a stair climber or an elliptical machine. You can also consider balance tools like a pro fitter trainer, which can be used by beginning or intermediate balance enthusiasts and is excellent in training for knee and ankle strength and core stability.