Exercise for Strengthening Hip & Knee Joints

Certain exercises can help strengthen your hip and knee joints.

Your hips and knees are invaluable when it comes to day-to-day mobility and also certain exercise routines. If your hips and knees are weak, however, you can be in danger of injuring yourself. Exercises that target the hip and knee are vital to prevent injury.

Causes of Weakness

Causes of hip and knee weakness can be as simple as neglecting those joints during exercise or as complex as sciatica or scarring after surgery. Damage to the sciatic nerve can cause discomfort, weakness and even pain in your hips, knees and legs. Surgery on these joints can leave the muscles weak from extensive recovery periods.

Hip Exercises

There are many exercise options to help strengthen your hips and knees. For hips, do thigh stretches, where you extend your leg outward to your side (either while lying on the floor or standing behind a chair) and hold for a few seconds.

Knee Exercises

For your knees, do hamstring curls. Stand behind a chair, using it for balance, and curl your foot back as close as you can to your buttocks and hold for a few seconds.

References

• MayoClinic.com: Sciatica
• MoneyWatch.com: Hip to be Square
• Fitness Health Zone: Suffering With Weak And Painful Knees? Knee Exercises To Support The Knee Joints
• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: Knee Exercises
• Ohio State University Medical Center: Exercises to Strengthen Your Hip and Knee