Whether you’re running up a hill or simply bending down to pick something up, you need to be able to trust your knees. How do you make sure you can depend on them without worry? Targeted knee strengthening exercises can help but it’s more than just your quads you need to worry about. The exercises we’re sharing today have the ability to not only strengthen your knees, but retrain your body to move properly. This alleviates extra stress from being put on the knee. You’ll prevent injury, alleviate pain, and bulletproof your knees for whatever you’re asking them to do!
How Can I Make My Knees Stronger?
It doesn’t matter if you’re 19 or 90, strong knees are essential for everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, even getting up from a chair. They also play a vital role in sports and fitness activities. They absorb impact, maintain stability, and support your body through repetitive motions. Weak knees can lead to pain, reduced performance, and increased injury risk. The question then becomes, are my knees really the problem?
You may be surprised to hear this but hip strength and mobility directly affects knee health. The knee suffers from any weakness and dysfunction stemming from the hips. This increases stress and instability to the knee joint. Contrary to popular belief of focusing on your quads to strengthen your knees, our knee strengthening exercises combine targeting important hip muscles and compound movements. These compound movements help your hips and knees work together to stabilize and strengthen both the hip and knee. That way they’ll work harmoniously together to be stronger than ever!
4 Best Knee Strengthening Exercises
**Before you start strengthening, make sure your body is ready for it. You need adequate flexibility in your joints before improving your stability and strength. If you need to improve flexibility first, check out our lower body solutions playlist **
1. Side Leg Lifts
Glute med. activation – Great for abduction and lateral movements, these smaller hip rotators need to be strong! Lay on your side keeping your core engaged. Make sure your top leg is slightly behind your hip. Now lead with your heel as you lift up towards the ceiling. Be careful not to over arch your back. Do 10 reps per side
2. Hip Thrusts
Glute max activation – This muscle is your main source of power – Use a box, chair, or bench to place the tips of your shoulder blades on. Then, making sure your feet are hip width apart, toes facing straight ahead, lift/extend your hips and squeeze right where your glute and hamstrings meet when you reach the top. Make sure you’re pressing evenly through both feet and engaging your core to keep your spine stable. Do 10 reps total.
3. Modified Romanian Deadlifts (RDLs)
Connect your knee and hip stability (for basically everything) We’ll break this into 4 parts. With both feet on the ground:
1- hinge at your hips
2 – shift your weight to one side
3 – lift your leg behind you keeping your hips square to the ground
4 – stand up as 1 motion
Do 5 reps/side (10 total)
Pro Tip – don’t bend your knees!! It will strengthen your quads which we don’t need right now! You only need a slight bend in your knee to help with stabilizing.
4. Single Leg Eccentric Chair Squats
Combines stability, strength, and teaching your brain what position your knee should be in – Using a chair, bench, or box, balance on 1 leg. Initiate sitting down by hinging at your hips and slowly lowering down until seated (Try slowly counting to 4).
Staying on one leg, stand back up. It’s important to make sure your knee doesn’t fall to the inside of your toes on both the up and down! Also if you’re having a hard time standing up you can use your free foot to help you stand. Work up to standing up without it!
These exercises are best done circuit style. You want to do 1 set of each and then repeat all 4 exercises 2 more times!
Watch This Detailed Video About These 4 Knee Strengthening Exercises
How Long Does It Take To Strengthen The Knees?
For optimal results, perform these exercises 3-5 times per week. It’s always important to listen to your body and stop if you experience pain beyond mild discomfort. These exercises complement your fitness or hobby – they don’t replace it. It can take anywhere from 3-4 weeks to feel a change in your body so stay dedicated. Consistency is key!
These knee strengthening exercises can significantly improve your hip and knee health. Remember, if you have existing knee issues or have concerns, consult a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program. If you have any questions related to our programming don’t hesitate to reach out and ask on our socials! We’d love to hear from you.
Fortify Your Knees, Amplify Your Life
You’re an active individual who loves staying fit and enjoying life to the fullest. Whether you’re an athlete, weekend warrior, or simply someone who wants to maintain an active lifestyle, your knees are crucial to your mobility and quality of life.
But lately, you’ve been experiencing knee pain, stiffness, or instability. These issues are holding you back from your favorite activities, affecting your performance, and even impacting your daily life. You’re worried about long-term damage and the possibility of invasive treatments down the road.
MDRx Knee Bulletproof is a revolutionary 4-week program designed by us, movement specialists and physical therapists. We understand the frustration and limitations that come with knee problems, and we’re here to guide you towards stronger, more resilient knees.
Our comprehensive program includes:
1. Expert-led video tutorials on proper knee mechanics
2. Targeted strength, stability, and flexibility exercises
3. Our proven Mobility-Doc Method
4. Daily progress tracking
Don’t let knee pain hold you back any longer. Sign up for MDRx Knee Bulletproof today and take the first step towards bulletproof knees!
By following our program, you’ll work towards avoiding:
– Chronic knee pain and discomfort
– Decreased athletic performance
– Potential surgery or invasive treatments
– A sedentary lifestyle due to knee issues
With MDRx Knee Bulletproof, you’ll experience:
– Stronger, more stable knees
– Improved athletic performance
– Confidence in your daily activities
– A future of pain-free mobility and active living
Don’t wait for your knee problems to worsen. Invest in your mobility and quality of life today with MDRx Knee Bulletproof. Your knees will thank you!
Check out our other MDRx Programs here
