What would be the best closed circuit exercises both for fat loss and aerobic benefit?

Also, no weight or impact can be put on the ankles, so cycling etc would fit whereas running would not.

Weight bearing exercises are good, to strengthen the joints. Walking on a tradmill / walking uphill on a treadmill is good. Cycling on low resistance (if you're using one in a gym), then gradually increasing it will help in the strengthening. But you would have to speak to your doctor to get refferal letter first. If you can find a gym that has a hand bike, then that would be overall good aerobic exercise. A benefit for this machine is you'd be getting a good workout and you dont use your feet for this either, so no pressure would be put on the ankles. You may want to ask your doctor about exercise on prescription. A doctor refers you to a gym that has a health advisor. Who will work out a program for the gym, monitor your progress and help you with exercise outside of the gym. As for fat loss it's to do with diet as well as exercise. Any gym that has a nutritionalist will be of benefit to you.

Also, being out and about walking is good to increase the strength in your joints. You may want to do some mobility exercises before you work out, before you cycle, walk on treadmill or walk around the park / your area. Mobility exercises seem pointless but the purpose of these are to increase synovial fluid around a joint. Synovial fluid warms up the joint and helps the joint in question to be more mobile. When you attend a gym, take up running etc, the purpose of a warm up is not just to warm up the muscles being trained, but the joints you will be using also. For the ankles you can do ankle circles, one foot on floor, one slightly off the ground. Circle ankle clockwise 6-8 times, change direction. Do the same for the other foot and repeat again for both feet. I still reccommend seeing a doctor about exercise on prescription. As you will be more closely monitored by the health advisor at the gym than with a gym instructor.

Also, being out and about walking is good to increase the strength in your joints. You may want to do some mobility exercises before you work out, before you cycle, walk on treadmill or walk around the park / your area. Mobility exercises seem pointless but the purpose of these are to increase synovial fluid around a joint. Synovial fluid warms up the joint and helps the joint in question to be more mobile. When you attend a gym, take up running etc, the purpose of a warm up is not just to warm up the muscles being trained, but the joints you will be using also. For the ankles you can do ankle circles, one foot on floor, one slightly off the ground. Circle ankle clockwise 6-8 times, change direction. Do the same for the other foot and repeat again for both feet. I still reccommend seeing a doctor about exercise on prescription. As you will be more closely monitored by the health advisor at the gym than with a gym instructor.

Thanks for taking the time to post Helena. Got to be complete none impact though which rules running out and walking to an extent (not saying I hop around on one leg or anything but it would do more harm than good).

I`m thinking maybe spinning, rowing machine, exercise bike and weights. If impact was unavoidable then maybe throw the cross trainer in as well but none impact is paramount.

If you don't mind me asking but what's the matter with your ankles? I wouldn't reccommend the cross trainer because it's quite a vigourous piece of equipment. You can use the hand bike, rowing machine, and if you're allowed cycling. If you do weights such as squats, calf raisers, seated leg press. Then you would be putting a considerable amount of pressure on the ankles. I still think exercise on prescription would be your best option, and your doctor would be able to refer you. A gym instructor will do programs for you, and help you if you get stuck on the machines, or alter your workout if it becomes unsuitable to you. Whereas a health advisor (through the Exercise on Prescription), will be able to be a bit more personal about your needs and will meet up with you once a week to see how you're getting on, answering any questions etc.. I suppose you could do some swimming, maybe aqua aerobics. The bonus is that if you go with the exercise on prescription, the gym i did my apprenticeship with. They give you vouchers and discounts. My gym would charge each time you go, and charge for inductions and programs. But the people that were on exercise and prescription got vouchers to use, a pound off each time they went. And their inductions i think were either free, or they got a discount.

Just wanted to rephrase about meeting needs. I meant that a gym instructor can put together a workout for your fitness needs. Whereas the health advisor is qualified to do a workout that is specific to your health as well as fitness. So you do exercises and in a certai way that wont put your health at risk

Chronic injury from about 3 years ago. The specialist I saw privately explained they couldnt operate so to do closed circuit exercises to make the most of a bad situation.

Have tried the impact route on treadmills and was able to get up to 30 mins running but my last consultation threw up some MRI results that showed that sort of exercise was pointless as a recovery method as it would just make things worse, plus the discomfort after was a pain in the arse.

I found the cross trainer ok as there isnt any impact, just my own weight on the ankle and the stretch of the lunge.

Just looking for something now that doesnt involve any weight directly on the ankle so I can get fit again!