You’ll find many knee osteoarthritis treatment options at a physical therapist’s office in Warrenton, Missouri. One key component used in physical therapy plans for knee arthritis is therapeutic exercise. This type of exercise uses strengthening movements and stretches to help increase joint stability and reduce pain. Here are two examples of knee osteoarthritis exercises your therapist may have you do:
1. Kickbacks
Strengthening exercises are a key part of knee osteoarthritis treatment. Stronger muscles help provide better support for arthritic joints, and this can make walking and other normal daily activities easier to do. Also, strong muscles help keep the bones of the knee separated, and consequently they are less likely to rub together and cause you pain.
Kickbacks are an example of a knee strengthening exercise that could be used in your knee arthritis treatment plan. To begin this exercise, stand up straight with your hands on the back of a chair. Using the chair will help you keep your balance during the exercise. From this position, bend your right leg up as high as you can toward the back of your leg. As you bend your leg, make sure to keep your toes pointed toward the floor.
Once you’ve raised your leg, hold it in the air for three to five seconds, and then return your foot to the floor. Repeat these movements until you’ve completed between five and 10 reps with each leg. You can also do this exercise several times throughout the day to increase your strength even faster.
2. Lying hamstring stretch
Although you do want strong muscles to support the knee when you have arthritis, stretching them is also important. Muscles that are too tense can cause the knee to become misaligned, which can decrease mobility and increase pain. The lying hamstring stretch is the type of therapy exercise you can do to keep muscles from becoming too tense.
Start this exercise by lying down with your back on the floor and your legs flat. Then, slowly raise your right leg up toward your chest and place your hands on the back of your thigh. Gently pull the leg closer toward your chest until you feel a stretch in your hamstring and hold this stretch for about five seconds. Once you’ve counted off five seconds, release your leg and slowly return it to the floor. Repeat these steps with the left leg and keep repeating them until you’ve completed three to five repetitions with both legs.
Get knee osteoarthritis treatment at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Warrenton, MO
If you’re looking for knee osteoarthritis treatment that uses the most effective therapy methods, Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Warrenton is here to help. We make it easy to get your treatment started by offering free screenings. We also build personalized therapy plans that are unique to each patient we see, and these plans may use therapy techniques like:
- Therapeutic exercise
- Trigger point therapy
- Joint mobilization
- Kinesiotherapy
Don’t wait to get our help with your arthritis pain. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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