Knee stability exercises probably aren’t top of mind when you go to the gym. But having stable knees is extremely important in a range of different scenarios, starting with running Marathon To go up the stairs to Squatting down to pick up a kid – which means making these kinds of moves on the registry is actually a really smart idea.
“Probably everyone can benefit from some type of strengthening to improve knee stability.” Carrie Whitlam, PT, DPT, OCS, ATCsays a physical therapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Fortunately, incorporating knee stability exercises into your exercise routine is easier than you think: we’ve got three great examples here, along with step-by-step instructions for incorporating them into your workouts.
First though, what even He is Knee stability…and why does it matter? Read on for all the information you should know.
What exactly is knee stabilization?
Knee stability can include a lot of different things, but in short, it’s “the ability to maintain your knee’s alignment and position during movement and activity,” Whitlam says.
Whitlam explains that there are passive structures in the body that help stabilize the knee, which include certain ligaments, such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and anterior cruciate ligament (MCL). There are active structures that also help, which include muscles such as Quads, hamstrings and hipsShe adds.
When it comes to knee stability, each of these muscles plays a slightly different role: The quadriceps help straighten the knees, the hamstrings work to flex them, and the hips act as the “steering wheel” that controls the position and alignment of the knees, says Brady Soule, DPT, SCS, CSCS, a physical therapist and strength and conditioning specialist from Minnesota. House trainingsays the self.
Basically, there’s another way to think about it knee Stability, Soule says, is how well these three muscle groups work together to control the joint during movements like squats, lunges, and lunges. During a squat, for example, you need all three players to fire and coordinate with each other to complete the movement correctly and prevent your knee from collapsing inward.
Why does knee stability matter?
Having good knee stability is not only About squatting perfectly. It also helps reduce our chances Knee pain And injury while exercising, participating in sports, and moving in our daily lives.
