Knee Arthritis Conditioning Program
Welcome to our Knee Arthritis Conditioning video series. The goal of these videos is to reduce stress on the knee and maximize pain-free function. These videos should not be used as a substitute for regular physical therapy visits and guidance from your physician.
Click here to download a pdf version of the Knee Arthritis Conditioning Program Guide
Knee Arthritis Exercises
STRETCHING
GOALS: Improve knee motion and reduce tension in the joint
KEY POINTS:
- Perform STRETCHING exercises prior to doing STRENGTHINING exercises. Repeat stretching at the end of the session.
- Hold stretch in each position 30 seconds; then relax for 15 seconds; and repeat
- Do 5 repetitions for each stretch
EARLY STRENGTHENING
GOAL: Build strength and stability in the knee
KEY POINTS:
- Let pain be your guide; if you find a certain exercise too painful to complete, then reduce the intensity of the exercise or abandon it altogether
- Start with no weight and progress to light dumbbells or ankle weights to increase resistance
- Perform 1-2 sets to 12-15 repetitions of each exercise
- When performing leg extension, keep resistance light to avoid irritation
ADVANCED STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
GOALS: Advance muscle strength, coordination and endurance for long-term pain relief
KEY POINTS:
- Continue EARLY STRENGTHENING exercises
- As strength and flexibility improve, add these exercises to improve knee stability and pain-free function
- Cross-training exercises limit repetitive stress on certain body parts and reduce overuse injuries
- All exercises are low impact; start with a single exercise for 10-15 minutes and progress as tolerated
- Perform 1-2 sets of strengthening exercises for 12-15 repetitions