Knee pain is often caused by weakness and tightness in the muscles and tendons that connect to the knees. Intermountain Health exercise specialist Jeffrey Beck says this can lead to a negative interference with everyday life. Beck suggests doing the following stretches a few times per week to limber up the muscles supporting the knee.
1) Standing Hamstring Stretch:
- Stand on your right foot with your left foot in front of you, heel on the floor with toes pointed up.
- Hinge forward from your hips and bend your right knee as you sit back a bit, keeping your left leg straight.
- You should feel this stretch up through the hamstrings.
- Hold for 30 seconds and then switch legs.
- Repeat 3 times per leg.
2) Calf Stretch:
- Stand in front of a wall with one leg straight behind you and the other in front of you slightly bent.
- Place your hands on the wall and push against it, keeping your back leg straight with your heels planted on the floor.
- You should feel this stretching the calf muscle.
- Hold for 30 seconds and then switch legs.
- Repeat 3 times per leg.
3) Quad Stretch:
- Lie on one side and keep the bottom leg straight and bend the top knee so your foot is by your butt.
- Hold the top foot with your hand, pulling it toward your butt.
- You should feel this stretching your quadriceps.
- Hold for 30 seconds and then switch legs.
- Repeat 3 times per leg.