Hamstring Stretch
Stretching keeps you
flexible and improves your range of motion, or how far you can move your joints
in certain directions. It also helps you lower your odds of pain and injuries.
Always warm up with a
5-minute walk first. Lie down when you're ready to stretch your hamstring. Loop
a bed sheet around your right foot. Use the sheet to help pull the straight leg
up. Hold for 20 seconds, then lower the leg. Repeat twice. Then, switch legs.
Calf Stretch
Hold onto a
chair for balance. Bend your right leg. Step back with your left leg, and
slowly straighten it behind you. Press your left heel toward the floor. You
should feel the stretch in the calf of your back leg. Hold for 20 seconds. Repeat
twice, then switch legs.
For more of a
stretch, lean forward and bend the right knee deeper -- but don’t let it go
past your toes
Straight Leg Raise
Build muscle
strength to help support weak joints.
Lie on the
floor, upper body supported by your elbows. Bend your left knee, foot on the
floor. Keep the right leg straight, toes pointed up. Tighten your thigh muscles
and raise your right leg.
Pause, as
shown, for 3 seconds. Keep your thigh muscles tight and slowly lower your leg
to the ground. Touch and raise again. Do two sets of 10 repetitions. Switch
legs after each set.
Quad Set
Is the straight
leg raise too tough? Do quad sets instead. With these you don’t raise your leg.
Simply tighten the thigh muscles, also called the quadriceps, of one leg at a time.
Start by lying
on the floor. Keep both legs on ground, relaxed (left photo). Flex and hold
left leg tense for 5 seconds (right photo). Relax. Do two sets of 10
repetitions. Switch legs after each set.
Seated Hip March
Strengthen your
hips and thigh muscles. It can help with daily activities like walking or
standing up.
Sit up straight
in a chair. Kick your left foot back slightly, but keep your toes on the floor.
Lift your right foot off the floor, knee bent. Hold the right leg in the air 3
seconds. Slowly lower your foot to the ground. Do two sets of 10 repetitions.
Switch legs after each set.
Too hard? Use
your hands to help lift your leg.
Pillow Squeeze
This move helps
strengthen the inside of your legs to help support your knees. Lie on your
back, both knees bent. Place a pillow between the knees.
Squeeze your
knees together, squishing the pillow between them. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax.
Do two sets of 10 repetitions. Switch legs after each set.
Too tough? You
can also do this exercise while seated.
Heel Raise
Stand tall and
hold the back of a chair for support. Lift your heels off the ground and rise
up on the toes of both feet. Hold for 3 seconds. Slowly lower both heels to the
ground. Do two sets of 10 repetitions.
Too tricky? Do
the same exercise while sitting in a chair.
Side Leg Raise
Stand and hold
the back of a chair for balance. Place your weight on your left leg. Stand tall
and lift the right leg out to the side -- keep the right leg straight and outer
leg muscles tensed. Hold 3 seconds, then slowly lower the leg. Do two sets of
10 repetitions. Switch legs after each set.
Too hard?
Increase leg height over time. After a few workouts, you’ll be able to raise it
higher
Sit to Stand
Practice this
move to make standing easier. Place two pillows on a chair. Sit on top, with
your back straight, feet flat on the floor (see left photo). Use your leg
muscles to slowly and smoothly stand up tall. Then lower again to sit. Be sure
your bent knees don’t move ahead of your toes. Try with your arms crossed or
loose at your sides.
Too tough to
do? Add pillows. Or use a chair with armrests and help push up with your arms
One Leg Balance
This move helps
you bend over or get in and out of cars.
Stand behind
your kitchen counter without holding on, and slowly lift one foot off the
floor. The goal is to stay balanced for 20 seconds without grabbing the
counter. Do this move twice, then switch sides.
Too easy?
Balance for a longer time. Or try it with your eyes closed.
Step Ups
Do this to
strengthen your legs for climbing steps.
Stand in front
of stairs, and hold onto the banister for balance. Then place your left foot on
a step. Tighten your left thigh muscle and step up, touching your right foot
onto the step. Keep your muscles tight as you slowly lower your right foot.
Touch the floor and lift again. Do two sets of 10 repetitions. Switch legs
after each set.
Walking
Even if you
have stiff or sore knees, walking may be a great exercise. Start slow, stand
tall, and keep at it. You can ease joint pain, strengthen your leg muscles,
improve your posture, and improve your flexibility. It's also good for your
heart.
If you're not
active now, check in with your doctor before you start a new exercise program.
Low-Impact Activities
Other exercises
that are easy on the knees include biking, swimming, and water aerobics. Water
exercise takes weight off painful joints. Many community and hospital wellness
centers, gyms, and pools offer classes for people with arthritis.
Being active
may also help you lose weight, which takes pressure off your joints.
For favorite
activities, like golf, ask your doctor or physical therapist how to safely make
painful moves hurt less.
How Much Exercise?
Thirty minutes
a day is a good goal. Start small, like with 10 minutes every other day. If you
don't have pain, exercise more to meet the goal.
Some mild
muscle soreness is normal at first. It's OK to work through it. Check with your
doctor if you want to try over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen,
ibuprofen, or naproxen to ease the soreness. Ice can also help. Don't ignore
pain in your joints, though. Let your doctor know if you have any.
Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH on Wednesday,
December 16, 2015
Slideshow: Exercises for
Knee Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain
This tool does not
provide medical advice
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