Knee Stability Exercises – Level 2

**Do not start this program without first being examined and prescribed a beginner program. This is NOT a beginner program.

Stabilizing the knee via exercises is an important injury prevention technique that most people do not incorporate enough into their routine. Many sports place strain on the knee and therefore can cause injury. You cannot strengthen ligaments or joint cartilage. It simply is what it is. However you can strengthen tendons and muscles and improve flexibility and co-ordination. There is no better injury prevention for the knee than a 2 to 3 times per week stability program.

Here are the goals with knee stability programs:

Increased flexibility of:
1. Hips (internal, external rotation)
2. Quadriceps
3. Hamstrings
4. Inner thigh muscles
5. Calves

Increased co-ordination of:
1. Ankles
2. Core
3. Hip & knee movements

Increased strength of:
1. inner thighs
2. hip muscles
3. hamstrings

 

We cannot ignore any aspect of the leg structure, from the core down to the ankles, as they all have an impact on the efficacy of knee movement. Please do these exercises after a proper warm up (e.g.: 5 minutes on the eliptical).

 

1. Foam Airplanes
– stand on foam board (without shoes)
– arms out in “T” formation (do not let arms drop throughout exercise)
– lift one leg off
– keeping chest over hips (straight back), bend one “wing tip” down to ground by moving hips NOT arms
– then reverse movement and bring other “wing tip” towards ground
2 sets of 8 on both sides

 

 

2. Balance & Pass Medicine Ball
– balance on an exercise ball with your knees (feet OFF ground)
– stand erect, chest over hips, arms out, one hand holding med ball
– pass ball back and forth (see video below)
2 sets of 10 passes (5 to each hand)

 

3. Face-the-wall Squats
face wall, feet wide apart
have chair behind you to catch you if you fall
– toes turned outward 45 degrees and toes one inch from the wall
– pull chest “back” by pinching shoulder blades together and keeping ears over shoulders (head back)
– hands between your legs (finger tips against wall)
– squat down as low as possible while maintaining proper technique

2 sets of 15

 

 

4. Hamstring “pops” on exercise ball
– lay on back, feet on ball
– arms at your sides, palms down for support
– lift buttocks off floor and lift on leg up in air
– simultaneously roll the ball towards your buttocks and elevate the leg towards ceiling (see video below)
2 sets of 8 each leg

Nurse performing body-hamstring proprioceptive strength rehab

A post shared by Dr Emmanuel Parenteau (@drparenteau) on

 

5. One-legged Quarter Squat with Ball and Foam Board
– pin ball between wall and buttocks (NOT low back)

– place both feet on foam board (NO shoes)
– chest out, arms out (do NOT lean forward)
– lift one leg in the air
– drop into a controlled, quarter squat (NO further, too much pressure on PCL)
– press back up and repeat (see video below)
– make sure foam pad is far enough away so that at bottom of quarter squat your knee is not shifting forward

2 sets of 8 each leg

Knee Stability Squats – only quarter squats or less (otherwise hard on PCL and knee in general) 2 sets of 8 each leg

A post shared by Dr Emmanuel Parenteau (@drparenteau) on

 

6. Hip Circles
– Lie on your side.
– Bend bottom knee.
– Point toe of top leg.
– “Draw” as large a circle as you can by moving leg in a circle.
– Go as far UP and BACK as possible.
– reach forward lay forearm flat on ground to keep pelvis from leaning back during exercise
Do 2 sets of 10 on each side

 

 

7.  Single Leg Pot Stirs on Exercise Ball
– lay on ground
– one leg on ball
– lift pelvis slightly off floor
– palms down on floor for support
– “stir the pot” with foot on ball
2 sets of 8 “stirs” for each leg