Doing a few simple knee strengthening exercises can go a long way to making your knees stronger therefore enabling you to get fitter, quicker.
If you suffer from a condition called chrondromalacia patella this first exercise will be really useful. That’s a roughening of the cartilage underneath the knee cap, sometimes as the result of the bones not sitting properly in the ‘V’ of the knee joint.
A really simple exercise that will help is as follows:- Sit comfortably on a chair, try not to tense up, you need to relax, have your thigh parallel with the ground, leg bent and 90 degrees, feet on the ground, tense the thigh, then hold this position for five seconds and release the hold, do the same with the other leg. Complete ten reps on each leg.
Please make sure your breath normally while doing these exercises.
The second exercise is a little more tricky but it does help build up the strength in your knee.
Sit in a chair again, then cross your bent legs at the ankle. Push your legs forward with the rear leg then push them back using the front leg. (At first this can seem a little tricky but it is really easy once you get used to it!).
Switch the position of your legs by changing the direction of the cross. If the right leg was in front, move it to the back. Repeat this exercise ten times for each position.
Calf Burns
Would you like to move onto to something a little more challenging?
Depending on your balance and the surface you’re standing on, you may need to do this on a mat or carpet, or on a wooden floor. Avoid using a cement or metal floor.
Making sure you are well balanced, stand up straight, toes a little apart, heels together.
Lift the heels, balancing on the balls of your feet. Imagine a string attached to the centre of your head pulling you up. Hold for 5 seconds, then lower slowly. Repeat 10 times. Over time, as you build strength and balance, increase the length of time you’re on the balls of the feet.
Vary the action by bending slightly at the knee while you still have the heels raised. This will bring the thighs (quadriceps or ‘quads’ and hamstrings) as well as the buttocks into play. Straighten up, then lower the heels. Repeat 10 times.
I am sure you are aware of how important it is to have strong, healthy knees when carrying out any type of fitness routine. Doing these easy knee strengthening exercises regularly will really improve the state of your knees and help you increase your fitness levels even further.
If you want to tone up the rest of your legs, take a look at these details for the best leg exercises. These exercises will help you build strong, sexy legs quickly. To get the rest of your body into shape, find loads of health and fitness tips here.
Tags: calf stretches, knee joint exercises, knee strength exercises, knee strengthening exercises, spinning