The knee is such a vital part of the human body, yet it is often one that is subject to a number of different problems that we may experience. The reason why this is true, in many cases, is because this area of the body tends to take a lot of abuse whenever we are younger and before any real problems begin to appear. Here are some effective knee exercises that can be done which can help you to overcome the pain that you are experiencing, but it may be able to help you to stop it from happening in the first place.
Wall Calf Stretch
While stretching, calf muscles most often get neglected. Therefore, for people who perform rigorous high impact workouts, running or even a lot of time on their feet, need proper calf stretches. This is because science has shown us that calves can get very tight from an impact. Therefore, they need to be stretched to relieve the tension that might later be problematic for the knees. Find a stable wall, and while facing the wall, stretch your right foot and place your heel where the floor meets the wall. While keeping your heel to the ground, lean toward your front leg and hold the stretch to its deepest point for about 5 seconds and switch feet. Target about 10-12 reps on each leg.
Quad Stretch and Half-Kneel Hip
This is a stretch that not only aids the knee, but also the hips. When you perform knee exercises, you will feel flexible. You can kneel on one knee with the other foot flat on the flat surface. Make sure you have close to 90 degrees with both your legs. After this is done, lean forward in the direction of your front leg. Stretch the front part of your hip in a downward direction. Then take the ankle of the leg on the ground and pull it toward your backside. This gives you a deep hamstring stretch all the way to the knees.
Quad Foam Roller Stretch
Quads are important to our legs and neglecting them comes with a heavy price later for our knees. This is because they usually get shorter from all the sitting our lifestyles involve. This causes them to be under constant tension. To rectify this, a foam roller can come in handy.
Start by lying face down with a foam roller under the right leg, right below the quad. This will help you put most of your body weight on your leg. When you have already done this, roll slowly. Some might say you should simply roll up and down. However, a better strategy will be to roll your leg from side to side and putting pressure on the tighter spots. Switch legs and continue doing this until you feel no pain or at least 7 minutes.
By utilizing these techniques, you will be able to stretch out the leg muscles, joints and therefore aid in your orthopedic health. The joints on your legs support much weight. Therefore, taking care of them should be a regular task never to be forgotten.