Other Inner Knee Pain Treatments
If your inner knee pain worsens after several days, or if basic at-home remedies dont alleviate symptoms, you should go see your doctor.
Some treatment methods for more serious knee injuries include:
- Steroid injection. This injection is used to treat pes anserine bursitis.
- Physical therapy. Therapy often involves stretching, exercises, and ultrasound therapy.
Exercises To Strengthen Knees
Strengthening the muscles that support your knee keeps knees healthy, reduces stress on the knee joint and helps to prevent injury. Strong quadriceps muscles in the front of the thigh and hamstring muscles in the back of the thigh enable the knee joint to bend, straighten and absorb shock. Strengthening exercises strengthen the muscles to help support the knee. Before strengthening exercises, warm up with 5 to 10 minutes of low impact activity like walking or cycling.
Move 1: Lateral Lunge
Side lunges strengthen lots of muscles in your lower body, including your glutes, hamstrings, quads and inner thigh muscles. They even work your core.
“The side-to-side move puts less strain on the cruciate ligaments part of your knees known to experience pain,” Prestipino says.
Tips:
- Step out with your moving foot as wide as possible, and keep both feet completely flat on the ground, toes pointed straight forward, Prestipino says.
- Make sure your moving knee is over your foot, not caving in toward the midline of your body or bowing out to the outside.
Modifications:
- Don’t bend the knee as deeply.
- “Instead of stepping into a lunge, you can use a paper plate or a slider to move away from the body,” she says.
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Sprains Strains And Other Knee Problems
There are many reasons why building the muscles around the knee can be beneficial. You dont have to wait for knee trouble to engage in strengthening exercises, but they can help improve knee conditions. If youre experiencing knee issues, they may be age-related, such as with osteoarthritis. Knee problems can also be caused by carrying excess weight on your body, a sprain or strain, knee trauma or inflammation.
Is Elliptical As Good As Cycling
Both cycling and the elliptical machine are considered low impact cardiovascular activities.
Since your feet are in contact with the pedals during the entire workout, both cycling and elliptical training are easier on the joints than running or other high intensity workouts .
If youre using an upright or recumbent bike, you can regulate the resistance to get a cardiovascular workout and calorie burn similar to those of the elliptical.
However, comparing outdoor cycling with an elliptical is a little more challenging.
There are more variables like hills, uneven terrain, trails, and traffic when you head outdoors. This often results in a workout thats more interval-based than a consistent, moderate intensity session on an elliptical.
Outdoor cycling also requires your body to adjust to varying conditions. In that sense, cycling may be a better workout, especially if youre looking for a more functional workout that replicates the movement patterns you do more regularly.
Plus, findings from self-reported data show that ditching motorized transportation in favor of cycling to work may result in less weight gain over time (
8 ).
This translates to 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise 5 days a week to hit the 150-minute goal. If you dont have 30 minutes to spare, up the intensity and do 20 minutes instead.
Working out at a higher intensity is a time-efficient method for improving your cardiovascular health and boosting your calorie burn.
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What Else Can You Do
You can also strengthen the muscles of your legs with daily activities, like climbing stairs or walking more.
If you prefer more variety, some low-risk sports and activities could also help strengthen your knees:
- Pilates.
- Step-ups.
- Using an elliptical machine.
Also, including a hamstring stretch or any other stretch for that matter can help you manage the muscle soreness post-exercise.
Move 1: Standing Hip Flexion With Resistance Band
This move helps to strengthen the hip flexors, which are the muscles in the front of the hips that connect the pelvis and the leg. Strengthening these muscles can help promote proper positioning of the hips and knees.
- This one can also be done with a looped mini band around your ankles.
Modifications:
- If the band puts some side-to-side stress on your knee, try looping the band higher up your leg.
- Ditch the resistance band and do the movement without any added resistance.
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What Else Can Help With Knee Pain
Finding relief from knee pain depends on the cause or issue thats making it difficult for you to go about your daily activities. Carrying excess weight puts extra stress on your knees, which may lead to osteoarthritis.
In this case, the most effective treatment, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is weight loss. Your doctor may recommend a combination of diet and exercise to help you lose weight and strengthen the muscles in your lower body, especially around your knees.
A 2013 study found that adults with overweight and knee osteoarthritis experienced a reduction in weight and knee pain after 18 months of a diet and exercise program.
But if overuse is the culprit, your doctor will likely suggest RICE which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation and physical therapy. A physical therapist can work with you to develop a program that includes range of motion exercises, stretches, and muscle strengthening movements.
The 18 Best Exercises For Knee Pain According To A Physical Therapist
When you have achy, sore knees, working out is probably the last thing you want to do. But generally speaking, exercising bad knees can actually help them feel better.
“While you might not feel like exercising when you have knee pain, moving your knee can promote circulation and blood flow,”Melissa Prestipino, DPT, clinical director of an outpatient clinic in Sparta, New Jersey, tells LIVESTRONG.com. Yep, strength training for knee pain is key.
The best exercises for knee pain have two important things in common: They strengthen the muscles that surround your knee, and put little-to-no impact on the joint.
Focusing on moves that bolster the surrounding muscles specifically, the quads will make sure your knee gets the support it needs and that it doesn’t take on too much strain itself when you exercise or go about your daily movements.
“Strengthening your quadriceps after knee injury can help to promote increased joint stability and help to improve joint function and even decrease knee pain,” she says. It’s common to be prescribed quad exercises after knee injury, but anyone with problem knees should be doing them, too.
Other than the quads, the hamstrings, glutes and other small muscles in the hips and upper leg all play a role in keeping your knees happy.
To help you get started, here are the 18 best exercises for sore knees from Prestipino to add to your workout routine.
Warning
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Thigh And Hip Strengthening Seated Leg Raises
This exercise strengthens the muscles in the front of the thigh, the quadriceps.
Repeat with the right leg. Perform 3 sets of 12 repetitions on each side.
How Can I Strengthen Cartilage
Cartilage is the part of the knee that protects the joints from rubbing against each other. It is the flexible structure that cushions your joints.
Just like the other parts of your knee, it can become damaged in several ways, one of the most common being the meniscus tear.
This is the largest piece of cartilage and is attached to the ligaments. You can also wear away the cartilage in your knee which is one of the issues associated with osteoarthritis.
You can not directly strengthen the knee, however, there are some exercises that have been proven to help to improve your range of motion and strength.
In some cases, surgery may be needed but this should be seen as the last resort.
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How To Strengthen Your Knees
Knee pain accounts for nearly 4 million primary care visits annually. The best way to exclude yourself from that statistic? Learn how to strengthen your knees.
You can easily strengthen your knee muscles at home with these 6 exercises. Theyre versatile, and you can adapt them to your current level to reap the benefits!
Ill also mention:
- A few dos and donts.
- Other ways to strengthen the muscles around the knee.
- Recommendations so you can get the best results!
Lets get to it.
Move 1: Standing Hip Abduction With Resistance Band
This move targets your hip abductor muscles. “There is a big relationship between hip strength and knee position,” Prestipino says. “By strengthening your hips, it can help avoid poor positioning of your knees and reduce strain.”
- Keep your core engaged throughout the entire exercise to avoid straining your lower back.
Modifications:
- If the band puts some side-to-side stress on your knee, try looping the band higher up your leg.
- Ditch the resistance band and do the movement without any added resistance.
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Whether Youre An Elite Athlete Weekend Warrior Or Couch Potato You May Be Struck Down With Knee Pain The Pain Can Occur Following An Injury Or Surgery Or Be Caused By Arthritis Or Wear And Tear But The Good News Is There Are Several Options For Treating Knee Pain
Many people believe rest is best for a crook knee, when in fact exercise is best to stop the knee from getting weak and stiff. Stretching and strengthening exercises you can do at home can help ease the pain while also improving your range of motion and joint strength. Stronger muscles around the knee reduce the impact of load and stress on the joint and help you live your daily life with less pain. If you suffer from knee pain, youre not alone. Around 19% of the Australian adult population experiences knee pain with the incidence increasing steadily with age. If everyone devoted a few minutes every day to exercising their knees, its likely wed have far fewer dodgy knees in Australia.
Changing Your Lifestyle To Strengthen Your Knees
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Maintains Fitness After Injury
If youre nursing an injury and cant participate in your regular physical activities, working out on an elliptical can be a great way to build or maintain your fitness.
Since its a low impact exercise, the elliptical puts less stress on your joints than high impact workouts like running, jogging, or jumping.
Working out on an elliptical after an injury may help you regain full range of motion. It can also help strengthen your muscles and joints while taking the stress off of the injured area.
Weak Knees Or Something Else
Knees are something most of us dont really think about until we start to have issues with them.
Since the knee joint is one of the large joints of the lower body alongside the hip joint and the ankle joint, it has to handle enormous amounts of stress and forces.
Our legs are a marvel of nature when you think about what they are capable of. The positions they can reach, the force they can produce and the endurance they can sustain when trekking long distances.
All that comes with a price. Since the muscles around the knee and hip joints are the strongest muscles in the human body, the joints have to handle huge amounts of stress.
Just like a mechanical joint, there is also a need for lubrication, otherwise, friction will lead to reduced performance and wear. And just like the mechanical joint in a machine, rust and debris can build up, causing the joint to malfunction.
These are simple metaphors of several ailments of the knee that can cause pain, lack of mobility, and severely reduced performance.
These include injuries like ruptured ligaments and torn cartilage and medical conditions like arthritis, gout, and even infections. There are many things that can go wrong within the joint, some more serious than others.
The common thing with many of these ailments is that they might not respond well to strengthening the muscles and ligaments around the knee joint. This is why its very important to get a proper diagnosis before trying to treat knee pain on your own.
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What Not To Do:
- Do not lock the knees during this exercise. The knees should remain slightly bent.
- Do not allow any part of the stepping foot to hang off the stool or platform.
- People who have issues with balance should not perform this exercise.
Muscles involved: Quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles.
There are many different ways to stretch the hamstrings in the back of the legs. One is through traditional toe touching.
- With the feet close together, slowly bend over at the hips and extend the arms downward. Keep the legs straight but do not lock the knees.
- Reach the fingers to the top of the toes and hold for 30 seconds.
- Initially, it may not be possible to reach the toes. In this case, try to get the fingers as close as possible to the toes without causing pain.
What not to do:
- Do not use a bouncing motion. Hold the body still.
Hamstring Curls On A Weight Bench
Muscles involved: Hamstrings and gluteal muscles.
This exercise is a variation of the standing hamstring curl. A person can try this version if they have access to a weight bench that is purpose-built for this exercise. It may be more challenging than the standing hamstring curl, depending on how much weight a person uses.
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Is Elliptical As Good As Running
If youre looking for an alternative to running, the elliptical is a great option. Not only is it easier on your joints, but you can also adjust the incline and resistance to mimic a running workout.
That said, most avid runners will tell you that its not the same as a good old-fashioned run.
Hitting the pavement or trails requires your feet to leave the ground and forces your body to adapt to inconsistent conditions. You might be stepping on uneven surfaces or going up and down hills.
This means youll recruit your lower body muscles to a greater degree and need more force to propel yourself forward .
Plus, pumping your arms boosts your heart rate, increases calorie burning, and uses some key upper body muscles like the biceps, triceps, chest, and upper back.
Many ellipticals come with handlebars that allow you to push and pull against resistance, but unlike the arm movements you perform continuously while running, this motion is optional with an elliptical. Also, the machine will do some of the work for you.
Although you should engage your core muscles when performing any aerobic workout, its easier to let these critical muscles relax when exercising on the elliptical, making running a better workout for your core .
One way to get the best of both worlds is to incorporate the elliptical into a running routine. For example, replace one outdoor or treadmill running day with a 3045-minute workout on the elliptical.