Best Exercises for Knee Pain

Whether you are younger or older, many people experience knee pain. This is because the knee is used heavily every single day, whether it is when you walk, jump, run, or bend over to pick up your toddler. Therefore, many are prone to injury and pain. While you might want to avoid exercising this part of your body, it will help you in the long run to strengthen it.

The Benefits

When it comes to knee strengthening exercises, they do not focus on affecting the knee directly. Instead, they strengthen the muscles around the knee to support the joint. This extra padding of muscle around the knee can help alleviate pressure and strain on the joints, leading to less pain.

There are some simple exercises that you can even do at home that can help you strengthen the muscles around the knee to perform your daily activities with more comfort.

Leg Lifts

For this exercise, you need to lie down on an exercise mat, like the one’s we carry at S36. This mat comes in a variety of sizes that you can perfectly fit into your living space or take with you to the gym. You will need to keep your left leg straight and bend the right leg slightly at the knee, bringing the foot closer to the body. Make sure that your back does not arch as you lift the left leg slowly, hold it for 5 seconds, and bring it back down. Repeat these two more times with the same leg, switch legs, and repeat.

Standing Hamstring Curls

First, you will need to stand straight with your knees one to two inches apart. If needed, hold on to a wall, or chair, to keep your balance. Second, slowly bend one knee behind the body, lifting the heel off the floor while keeping the thighs aligned. Hold the bent leg for five seconds and slowly lower it to the floor. Repeat the exercise with the same leg two more times, switch, and repeat.

Wall Squats

Another helpful exercise that you can also do at home is a wall squat. For this, you will need to stand with your head, shoulders, back, and hips flat against a wall. Step your feet 24 inches away from the wall and no more than hip-width apart. Once you get yourself in a good position, slide you back down the wall slowly until your body is just above a normal sitting position. Hold this position for 5 seconds, feel the burn and slide back up.

Don’t Forget to Stretch

You must stretch after working out. This helps improve flexibility and reduce pain and injury. Some good stretches include quadricep stretches, toe touches, and standing hamstring.

If you want to work out in the comfort of your home to strengthen your knee, S36 is sure to have the perfect exercise mat for you. With our mats, you can work out anywhere you would like with or without shoes. Additionally, our mats are manufactured to the highest standards and are free from BPA, Phthalates, formaldehyde, and harmful colorants. Our S36 exercise mats are 7mm thick, providing you extra comfort to continue an active lifestyle. For more information, visit our website.