5 Exercises For The Knee Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that affects the joints. It is usually located in the hands, knees, hip or spine. Osteoarthritis causes pain, inflammation and prevents the patient from normal movements such as closing the hand, climbing stairs or walking normally. The osteoarthritis symptoms are very varied and progressive over time. But the most frequent symptoms are joint pain, movement limitations, cracks and, in some cases, joint effusion. In addition, some people may have stiffness and joint deformity.
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of osteoarthritis. In these cases, the disease affects the internal and/or frontal parts of the knee causing pain when an effort is made. As a consequence of this pain and the degenerative evolution of the disease, the patient may be lame if the disease progresses to an advanced stage. In this type of osteoarthritis the movement of the joint usually causes clicks, in this article, we’ll give you 5 exercises to strengthen the muscles and mobility of the joints:
Lift the Leg in Extension (Isometric Quadriceps)
Lying on the floor, bend one knee with the foot on the floor, while stretching the other leg, with the toes pointing towards the ceiling. Lift the leg gently as much as you can, trying to keep it in the air by squeezing the muscles of the muscle, for 5 seconds. Then lower the leg and repeat the movement again.
Sitting, Flexing Knee and Hip
Sitting straight on a chair, lift the tip of the foot up keeping the knee bent. Then, raise the knee and keep it in the air for 5 seconds before slowly lowering it again.
Stretch The Back Part of The Leg
You can use a chair to maintain balance. Flexing one leg, without letting the knee go forward more than the foot, throw the other leg back by stretching it and keeping the heel resting on the floor. Try to maintain this position for 20 seconds noticing how the calf is stretched and then change legs.
Tiptoe
You can also use the back of the chair as a support point for this exercise. With the body set straight, stand on tiptoe and maintain this position for 5 seconds.
Balance and Support On One Foot
The objective of this exercise is to do it without support, but you can also use the backrest of the chair to make it easier. You need to put all the weight on one straight leg while slowly lifting the other one back, flexing it from the knee.
Perform these exercises twice a day, repeating them in a series of ten for each leg, always under the supervision of a doctor who can advise you if the exercises adapt to your degree of osteoarthritis.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119