What Not To Do
- Do not let the back arch during the exercise.
- Do not jerk or bounce the leg or lift it above the knee on the bent leg.
- People who have osteoporosis or a back compression fracture should not perform this exercise.
Muscles involved: Hamstrings and gluteal muscles.
Heel And Calf Stretch
This stretch targets the muscles in your lower leg, specifically your calf muscles.
To do this stretch:
Blood Flow Restriction Training
Ive been saving this one for last, as blood flow restriction training is arguably one of the most effective ways to increase quadriceps size and strength while training at light loads.
If you dont know what blood flow restriction training or therapy is, you can read any of the following articles that Ive written, which will bring you up to speed on all you need to know regarding what BFR training is, how its done and what science has been finding with its effects.
Related articles:
Unlike traditional strength training, which requires an individual to lift loads at approximately 60-70% of their maximal abilities to increase muscle mass and strength, BFR training can elicit the same effects in the legs using loads of only 20-30%.913
Having done my graduate thesis on this topic, Ive researched it extensively over the years while using it on numerous patients in the clinic and clients within the gym. Ive had great success with it and, when appropriate, opt for using it in various aspects of lower extremity rehabilitation.
Like any other training intervention, its not appropriate for everyone. Still, literature shows that its quite safe in otherwise healthy populations, both young and old. Its relatively simple to perform and has been shown to be effective for rehabilitative purposes and general strength training purposes.
In-Depth Product Review: B Strong BFR System
Final thoughts
References:
Recommended Reading: Left Side Pain Pregnancy Second Trimester
Healing Exercises For Knee Pain
The knee, made up of bones, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments, is the largest joint in the body. It can also be the source of a lot of discomfort.
A lot of people wonder if its a good idea to exercise if they have knee pain. They think it might put unnecessary stress on their knees. The truth is, not exercising could lead to more pain and weaker knees.
These exercises for knee pain will put you on the path to recovery! So give a few of them a try!
Living with chronic knee pain is difficult. If youve done the exercises and are thinking about the next steps you want to take on your journey to recovery, consider consulting a professional.
Dont Push Through The Pain
More pain isnt more gain. See, if you have existing knee pain, pushing through it can make it worse. It can delay your progress or even set you back if you force things.
And, this can be a bit hard to notice if youre used to pushing through the pain daily.
So, if any exercise causes pain, stop and honestly ask yourself: On a scale of 1 to 10, how intense is my pain?. Heres what to do next depending on your answer:
If the pain is 4/10 or less:
Take a 5-minute break, move on to another exercise, and/or try an easier variation.
Be mindful of the pain but keep exercising, as long as it doesnt get worse.
If its 5/10 or more:
Stop exercising, take a mental note of what happened, and rest until your next session. Also, try to use it as a learning opportunity.
See, there are a few things that may cause knee pain while exercising. From doing too much too soon to lack of sleep even being in a bad mood could contribute to this.
Trying to identify what happened is extremely valuable youll learn from it and improve for future sessions.
But if the symptoms increase or persist for more than 24 hours, please get your joint checked by a physical therapist or doctor.
Learn more:5 common reasons why the knee hurts while exercising.
Recommended Reading: Can’t Open Mouth Wisdom Tooth Pain
Take It To The Next Level
If completing the standard hip hinge is easy for you , try doing it on one leg.
The last few degrees needed for full leg extension come from a muscle in the quads called the vastus medialis. This exercise will help strengthen your quads.
Equipment needed: 1- to 3-pound ankle weight
Muscles worked: quadriceps
To ensure that you have the right form and are using the correct muscles for this exercise, youll need to start by facing an open wall or door.
Equipment needed: standard table chair
Muscles worked: all the muscles in the lower body
Stabilization Is The Key
As I said earlier, the knee is a marvelous joint in stabilization, and for some people you’ll be able to get more done on one knee at a time than two knees at the same time.
If you are having knee problems, the best thing you can do is choose exercises that require you to be on one leg at a time. I know what you’re thinking: “But doesn’t that put more pressure on the joint than using both knees?” I use to think that too, until I realized the human body is meant to be symmetrical in both appearance and strength.
Being on one leg allows people to put their bodies in a better technical position to perform a movement properly without further injuring themselves.
Another reason these particular exercises were chosen is because of the dynamic function of all the muscles involved. All of these exercises will hit the quads, hams and glutes in a maximum effort, so be prepared to be uncomfortable when you sit down.
Many beginning and amateur bodybuilders need to develop a lactic-acid pain threshold. This workout is not for the weak, but if your knees are giving you problems then this workout is for you. Even if you just want to do something different, this workout will be more of a challenge than you think for you healthy people also.
Squatting, leg presses, and hack squats were out of the question for me. So here is where I pulled out some of the old track weight-training that helped me win three first-place trophies in my first show. This workout is only to be done once a week.
Read Also: Tramadol For Back Pain Dosage
Why Is Exercise To Strengthen Your Knees Important
Strength and flexibility go hand-in-hand: a fluid muscle is a happy muscle. Knee exercises and stretches that promote both power and flexibility are of the greatest benefit, because they can help you prevent injury.
Knee strengthening exercises develop the muscles around the knee, but they can also cause the muscles to get tight, if not stretched properly. A tight muscle will constrict the knee joint and be more prone to injury. Stretching after knee strengthening exercise will alleviate muscle soreness and keep the muscles long and elastic.
What Not To Do:
- Do not lock the knees during this exercise. The knees should remain slightly bent.
- Do not allow any part of the stepping foot to hang off the stool or platform.
- People who have issues with balance should not perform this exercise.
Muscles involved: Quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles.
There are many different ways to stretch the hamstrings in the back of the legs. One is through traditional toe touching.
- With the feet close together, slowly bend over at the hips and extend the arms downward. Keep the legs straight but do not lock the knees.
- Reach the fingers to the top of the toes and hold for 30 seconds.
- Initially, it may not be possible to reach the toes. In this case, try to get the fingers as close as possible to the toes without causing pain.
What not to do:
- Do not use a bouncing motion. Hold the body still.
Don’t Miss: Pain In The Ac Joint
Move 1: Short Arc Quads
Unlike some other more traditional quad-strengthening moves, this exercise gets the job done without putting any weight on the knee joint, Prestipino says.
âTips:â
- Avoid lifting your leg off the bolster, towel or foam roller â that will get into the hip joint instead of focusing on the muscles surrounding your knee joint.
âModifications:â
- Use a smaller bolster or fold a pillow or towel under the knees to reduce the range of motion of the leg, she says.
Move : Hip Adduction With Ball
The goal here is to strengthen your hip adductor muscles. “By keeping the hip muscles strong, it prevents improper positioning of the knees, which avoids necessary strain,” Prestipino says.
âTips:â
- Avoid placing your feet too close to your butt, as this can cause unnecessary strain on the knees. Your feet should be far enough away that you canât touch them if you extend your arms, but close enough that you can just tap them with your fingertips if you reach and shift slightly to one side.
âModifications:â
- Instead of bending your knees, extend your legs straight and perform the same exercise.
Read Also: Lower Back Pain After Period
Why Do Knee Strengthening Exercises
Knee strengthening exercises help to improve both the strength and control around the knee which is really important:
- For knee stability & control
- To ensure correct biomechanics in the feet, knee, hips and back
- To reduce the risk of injury
- To allow full, pain-free movement
- To ensure full function
There are so many different knee strengthening exercises out there, it can be hard to know where to start. You will find a whole range of exercises here that will work all of the different muscle groups. Pick and choose three or four exercises that feel right for you – they should be challenging but not painful.
Related Article: Benefits of Resistance Bands >
Unweighted Exercises Leg Cycle Exercise
Start by lying on your back with both legs upward. Extend both your arms out at your sides for balance. Begin a cycling motion with your feet in the air. Try to increase the range of motion in the knee joint area, so the flexion in each leg goes from almost straight and extended to bent at a ninety degree angle.
You May Like: Arthritis In Knees Pain Relief
Expertly Chosen Leg Exercises
As a certified personal trainer for decades, I know from experience what leg exercises will be easy on the knees but still give you a great workout!
- There is no jumping, squats, or lunges just you, your equipment, and ten exercises to combat knee pain.
- These exercises will help work the muscles around the knee to help find stability around the knee area!
- Use this Leg Exercises For Bad Knees workout as your leg day workout or part of your weekly stretching and recovery workouts.
- If youre looking to increase strength in the lower body in your at-home workouts, I suggest adding these ten lower body exercises to your training routine at least two times a week.
Limiting The Range Of Motion
Though perhaps not ideal, if youre absolutely dead-set on performing leg extensions at all costs, you can opt to perform the exercise with a limited range of motion. Depending on your individual condition, you might be able to perform a portion of the movement in a pain-free range.
Some evidence shows that performing leg extensions up to 45 degrees of extension can reduce load underneath the kneecap, which could be a potential variation you could opt for until you get your knees back to optimal health.8
While I would personally only opt for this strategy as a last resort , you may find that its a solid strategy for you and one that your knees can tolerate. And its certainly better than nothing if you simply cant live without performing leg extensions.
Read Also: Doctor To See For Back Pain
Best Leg Exercises For Bad Knees
Your knees are excellent. Think about all they do for you in a day. Movements at the knee joint are essential to everyday activities. And if youre someone who suffers from bad knees, youre not alone! Leg exercises for bad knees will help heal and strengthen your knees and prevent knee injuries in the future. Because unfortunately, all of the use we put our knees through leads to a whole lot of injury. Thankfully, these lower-body exercises will help combat knee pain.
According to the American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons, in 2010, there were roughly 10.4 million patient visits to doctors offices because of common knee injuries such as fractures, dislocations, sprains, and ligament tears. A knee injury is one of the most common reasons people see their doctors. The AAOS also notes that female athletes are more prone to knee injury than male counterparts.
Eccentric Active Thomas Test
Recommended by:Travis Pollen, Ph.D., an exercise science professor, personal trainer, co-creator of the Strength For Yoga program, and cofounder of 3M Athletic Performance gym
Why it is good: Its worth paying extra attention to hip mobility. Given the proximity of the hip to the knee, freeing up some extra hip mobility can do the knee solid. The Thomas Test is a position physical therapists use to assess the hip flexors and specifically, the rectus femoris, which is both a hip flexor and a quad muscle . In the gym, we can turn the Thomas test into a mobility exercise by performing it actively, with an emphasis on the eccentric phase, Pollen says.
How to do it: Lie on your back on a workout bench. Pull your right knee in toward your chest and hold it in place. Draw your left knee in, then straighten the left leg towards the ceiling. Slowly lower that straight left leg towards the bench. Once you feel a good stretch on the front of your left hip, bend the left knee to shift the emphasis of the stretch to the quad. Return to the start position and repeat for the desired number of reps on both sides.
Programming suggestion: This mobility drill can be used in the warmup, cooldown, or in between sets of a big lift for two to three sets of six to eight reps per side.
Read Also: Root Canal Pain After 3 Days
Exercise And Knee Pain
If your knee pain is due to an injury, surgery, or arthritis, gentle stretching and strengthening exercises may help ease the pain while also improving your flexibility and range of motion.
Exercising a knee thats injured or arthritic may seem counterintuitive, but in fact, exercise is better for your knee than keeping it still. Not moving your knee can cause it to stiffen, and this may worsen the pain and make it harder to go about your daily activities.
Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises can strengthen the muscles that support your knee joint. Having stronger muscles can reduce the impact and stress on your knee, and help your knee joint move more easily.
Before you start an exercise program for knee pain, be sure to talk to your doctor or physical therapist to make sure the exercises are safe for you. Depending on your situation, they may recommend some modifications.