The knee is the largest joint in the body and the most easily injured! As a simple hinge joint which only allows flexion and extension, its complex structure of bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons is susceptible to fractures, tears, strains, sprains and degeneration over time. Sports that require quick starts and stops, and twisting movements on a planted foot are the knee’s worst enemies. Jeanine Robotti, Clinic Director and Physical Therapist at Physio Logic, explains why surrounding muscles are important to the stability of the knee and demonstrates some physical therapy for knees at home.
Physical Therapy for the knees
The knee joint provides both mobility and stability to the leg, but its health also relies on the strength and stability of the hip and ankle joints. Looking at the muscle chain of the leg, we notice several muscles that cross either the hip or ankle joint, as well as the knee. If there is weakness or dysfunction in those muscles, it can affect the stability of the knee.
It is, therefore, important to incorporate exercises for the stabilizing muscles of the hip and ankle into your physical therapy moves for knee routine. This can help reduce stress on the knee joint during functional activities such as stair-climbing, walking and running.
In physical therapy, we treat all conditions of the knee joint and support the belief of working up that muscle chain to improve overall lower extremity strength, balance and stability.
To keep your knees strong and healthy for your daily activities and sports, I recommend the following 5 physical therapy knee exercises:
1. Straight Leg Raise
Lying on your back, keep one knee bent with your foot flat on the floor. Tighten the knee of the straight leg and lift it up to the height of your bent knee. You will feel your quads and hip flexors working! Keep your pelvis still by engaging your abs. Perform 2 sets of 10 reps.
2. Bridge
Lying on your back with both knees bent, feet hip bone distance apart. Squeeze your glutes and lift your hips as high as you can. Try to lift your toes off the floor and put weight into your heels. This will increase the work on your hamstrings and glutes. Lower the hips down just to tap before lifting again. Perform 2 sets of 10 reps.
3. Ball/Wall Squats
Place a stability ball between your low back and a wall. Step forward a couple of feet, keeping your feet hip bone distance apart. Bend at your hips and knees to bring your thighs almost parallel to the floor. Keep your back straight and your knees lined up over, not in front of, your ankles. Squeeze your glutes to straighten back up to your start position. This targets your quads and glutes!
If you do not have a stability ball available, you can just use the wall. Lean back against the wall and step forward about two feet in front of you. Slide your back down the wall until your thighs are almost parallel to the floor. Keep your whole back and hips pressed against the wall and hold this position for 5-10 seconds. You should feel your quads burning! Use your glutes to slide back up. Perform 2 sets of 10 reps.
4. Step Ups
You can start with a 6 inch step and then increase the height using a sturdy box, no higher than the height of your knee. Start with both feet on the box. Keeping your pelvis level, step back with one foot to tap your toe on the floor and then step back up fully straightening the leg on the step. Focus on keeping your knee tracking over your second toe. This is a great exercise for that vastus medialis muscle for patellar stability. Perform 15-20 step ups, then switch legs.
5. Lateral Walks
Tie a theraband around your ankles. Squat down slightly, put weight toward your heels and keep your knees over ankles. Step to the side focusing on the outer hip. Keep constant tension in the band. Take 10 steps to the right, then switch to the left. Perform 2 sets.
If you like these physical therapy for knee pain exercises and want to further explore the benefits of physical therapy and other treatment options, check out the services at Physio Logic NYC. Schedule an appointment with one of our Physical Therapists today. Fill out the form below to get started.