Coach,
I am 76 years old and quit working the novice program about a year ago. I want to start it up again.
I will be having full replacement of my right (bone on bone) knee either in May or June, 2021. About 1 year later, I will have the left knee done.
My surgeon has told me under no circumstances to perform squats with the bar. I have also seen at least one of your comments affirming that doing so prior to surgery could complicate the procedure.
I have read all of your books and understand how difficult the deadlift is--(thus only one set).
I also realize that deadlifting is NOT squatting and cannot, by itself, build strength in the same way that working the novice program does.
That having been said, I would appreciate your thoughts on my working the program...BUT...substituting 1 or 2 extra working sets of the deadlift in place of the 3 working sets of the squat.
I would also appreciate your own assessment of what my doctor thinks--i.e., that the deadlift is not nearly as hard on the knee as is the squat--due to not bending it under the heavy weight.
My thanks as always,
Russ
I think you should have both knees done at the same time, this month.