How to Keep From Locking Your Knees

Take steps to prevent knee issues such as locking.

Locking of the knee or the inability to straighten it all the way is a symptom that sometimes accompanies knee pain. A locked knee occurs when your knee is too painful to allow for a full range of motion. In most situations, self-care is enough to treat and stop symptoms such as locked knees. However, prevention is also important and beneficial to stop knee problems before they get worse.

Instructions

1. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra pounds on your frame puts a strain on knees that can lead to injury.

2. Be aware of the way you exercise. Be mindful when you are lifting weights that your knees are not locked. Switch to swimming or low-impact activities that do not strain the knee as much as running or weight lifting. Stretch before exercising.

3. Work on strengthening the muscles around your knees, such as the quadriceps and hamstrings. These muscles will support your knee and will limit your reliance on it.

4. Wear a knee brace to help give support to the knee joint. The brace will keep your knee from locking when you walk or bend down to pick something up.

5. Be conscious when lifting something heavy that you don't lock your knees. Ask for help if you think something will be too heavy for you to lift on your own.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Knee Pain
• Knee Pain: Causes, Treatments, Tests and Home Remedies