Of all the joints in the human body, the knee is perhaps the most important of all, as it’s absolutely vital for supporting movement and mobility.
As such, it’s essential that you do all you can to protect your knee joints – otherwise you may find it increasingly difficult to perform actions you’ve previously taken for granted, everything from walking, running, jumping and climbing to squatting, bending down, riding a bike or kicking a ball.
Unfortunately, knee pain is an incredibly common condition, as our knees have to support the weight of our bodies while facilitating a range of different movements. This means that it’s particularly prone to injury and pain, as well as conditions like arthritis.
Engaging in regular physical activity is one of the best ways to protect your knees – but it’s important to make sure that you’re exercising in such a way that doesn’t put undue stress on your joints.
If you’re already experiencing knee pain, look out for low impact training sessions to help you build strength and mobility safely. Exercises include glute bridges, knee extensions, straight and side leg raises, hamstring curls, calf raises and so on.
To prevent knee pain from manifesting, you could consider avoiding exercises like jogging or any other kind of high-impact activity, including football and basketball. And make sure that you listen to your body, as it will give you all the cues you need. If you feel twinges or pain, do not ignore it. Stop what you’re doing, rest and recharge.
You can also help strengthen your knees and keep them in good condition by maintaining strong posture at all times. Bad posture inevitably puts stress on your joints, which can damage your cartilage.
Start practising good posture by standing straight with your shoulders back and your head level and in line with your body. Keep feet shoulder-width apart and your abdomen tucked in. When sitting, feet should be flat on the floor and your back pressed against the chair, with a space between the backs of your knees and the chair itself.
If you’d like any further help or advice relating to knee health, get in touch with Maidenhead physio clinic Clear Physio today.