Expert: Bret Temple - 12/11/2010

Question
Bret
I am 53. I have a touch o arthritis in my knees so I had to quit jogging, I have settled for a stationary bike and some light weight lifting. It gets my heart rate up and a bit of sweat.
Today when putting up the Xmas lights I decided to take a few free throws at the kids net before I took it down-they have moved out.
After only 15 minutes I had a great upper body sweat-I was sweating in places I dont usually while on the bike-and felt good all over.
I was never into basketball, neither were the kids really, but lately I am tuning in to NBA games.
Is this a good workout that might be overlooked?  Maybe I will go to the local civic center that holds an open gym and throw baskets there. Dribbling and running might be too hard on my knees though...
Thanks!

Answer
Gord,

There is a difference between getting a good sweat in and actually enduring a cardio-vascular  workout. So It depends on what your trying to accomplish by shooting hoops. If your looking at just getting a small work out in, sweating and burning some calories, shooting hoops is not a bad way to accomplish that. I wouldn't say you would get a great workout in. Now if you can get into some pick up games at your gym, that can be a great work out in which you will burn lots of calories. i would estimate the average professional basketball player burns anywhere from 5,000- 8,000 calories in once single game. But if you do have bad knees basketball can be hard on them. If you have access to a pool, swimming is probably one of the best cardio/ calorie burning workouts you can do, with absolutely no stress on the body whatsoever. It's especially great for individuals that have joint problems. I hope that helps.