Knee Strength
By Shania Rayford
The knee is a very important joint in the body that is responsible for a lot of normal daily activities like walking or standing up. It is important to keep knees healthy & strong to maintain independence as we age and become more prone to arthritis and other chronic diseases. There are various muscles around the knee that can be strengthened through exercise to increase the outer protection of the joint. Those muscles include the quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius (calf), and hip flexors.
Below you will find some low impact exercises that target the muscles surrounding the knee. To increase muscular strength, ACSM recommends that you do 2-6 sets of 6 or less reps with 2-5 minutes of rest at 85% of your 1 Repetition max (RM). 1RM is defined as the most weight you can lift for only 1 rep with proper form. If you need help on determining what your 1RM is, you can schedule a training session with one of our fitness staff to help you!
Although other lower body muscles like glutes are not directly connected to the knee joint, it is still important to build their strength as well. It is essential to have a well-rounded fitness plan that targets all areas of the body. No muscles left behind!