Question:
I am age 73 and have been doing weight training for about 7 months. Started with almost zilch muscle and have built quite strong muscles in my legs. I had been doing squats with a stability ball behind my back and holding on to a stick. Then I progressed to not using the stick and eventually will add weights as my balance improves. Also do leg press, hip adductors (2 machines), leg curls. Do not do leg extensions because pressing against my outer lower leg caused veins to rupture slightly. I have varicose veins which give me no trouble at all, but were developed over 8 pregnancies. Also am adding calf raises.

Answer: I believe your body tells you all you need to know about various exercises. I tend to stay away from exercises that place pressure on the joints. When I feel pain the next day in my tendons and ligaments, I throttle back a bit on that exercise. If you feel that you want to do squats and are concerned about your back, you might check out using a hip belt. IronMind carries one, see... As you get older, recovery from sore joints and muscles takes a bit longer, so ease into your new exercises slowly and make sure you are doing them properly. I can't tell you how often I see exercises performed incorrectly. Finally, make sure you warm up properly and include stretching in your routine. I would also suggest you find a good, qualified trainer, even it it's just for one session, to get you started on any new routine. They can also offer good advice on nutrition and supplements.