

Lunges are one of the best exercises for our lower body when it comes to building strength and muscle. Not to mention, they’re functional and can help make everyday movements easier. But, if your knees aren’t a fan, that doesn’t mean you have to forgo your lower body workout. Instead, you just need some exercises that are a little easier on the joints, like this six-move workout from MiraFit. It’ll still crush your lower body (in a good way), but won’t leave you clasping your knees in pain afterwards.
As tempting as it can be to avoid any knee movement at all, Harvard Health says that exercise may actually help alleviate the pain. They say: “The right combination of strengthening and stretching exercises can relieve pain by helping to improve the way the joint moves and functions.” Of course, if you’ve been told by a physio or GP not to exercise, then don’t, but if the exercises aren’t making your knee pain any worse, then you should be good to go.
This workout does include a sled push, but if you're doing it at home, you can just leave this one out (unless you have one lurking in your garage). Although a barbell and weight plates are used in the video above, it's perfectly fine to substitute this out for a pair of dumbbells. Aim to complete a minimum of three sets of each exercise below (four if you have more time) followed by a 90-second rest in between each exercise, and two minutes between rounds. Here are your exercises:
- Romanian deadlifts 8-12 reps
- Hip thrusts 10-15 reps
- Reverse lunges 10-12 reps
- Sled push 10-20 metres
- Box squats 6-10 reps
Remember, always consult with your doctor/GP if you suffer from particularly bad knee pain. If you're on the hunt for more knee-friendly leg workouts though, this 15-minute circuit is ideal for doing from home, or check out these three 'non-negotiable exercises' from a fitness expert to help improve your knee health.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts

Bryony’s T3’s official ‘gym-bunny’ and Active Staff Writer, covering all things fitness. She recently completed her Level 3 PT qualification with the PFCA to bring a deeper understanding of training techniques, fitness trends, and wellness advice to her writing. In her spare time, you will find her in her natural habitat - the gym - where her style of training is a hybrid of bodybuilding and powerlifting. Bryony loves writing about accessible workouts, nutrition and testing innovative fitness products that help you reach your fitness goals and take your training to the next level.
-
This bodyweight EMOM workout cranks up your metabolism and builds muscle endurance
20 minutes and a little grit is all you need
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Three exercises to 'life-proof' your shoulders, according to a mobility expert
Healthy shoulders mean better movement, more strength and less injury
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Build unshakeable core strength with a kettlebell and these three exercises
Add this to the end of your workout to fire up your midsection muscles
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Supercharge your aerobic engine with this three-move rower workout
Improve your cardiovascular fitness and burn through calories
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Arnold Schwarzenegger's 30-minute dumbbell workout for full-body gains
Increase your strength and muscle mass in the time it takes to make tea – what’s not to love?
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Sculpt your arms and shoulders with this low-impact, strength-style Pilates workout
These four simple dumbbell exercises will help leave your upper body toned and stronger
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
This two-move no-run cardio workout blasts through calories and builds strength all over
No need to run to get fit, this bodyweight workout ramps up the heart rate for a calorie burning boost
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
This no-plank, three-move bodyweight workout builds serious core strength and stability
A fitness expert says these exercises build core strength like a gymnast – impressive!
By Bryony Firth-Bernard