Knee Stability
One of the best things you can do to help build stability in your knee when you are suffering from OsteoArthritis is to focus on building strength in the muscles of the knee. OsteoArthritis is a condition that breaks down the cartilage in joints, including the knee. While there is no way to prevent this breakdown, there are ways to manage the symptoms and prolong any associated pain. This includes building the muscles in the knee.
Muscles In The Knees
There are two main groups of muscles connected to the knee that control how the joint and bones move. These are the quadriceps and the hamstrings. The strength and dexterity of these two important muscle groups greatly impacts the ability and functionality of the knee.
In addition to the quadriceps and hamstrings, the two calf muscles in our legs also play a role in how well the knee moves.
Quadriceps
The quadriceps runs along the front of our thighs starting from our hips down to our knees. They are comprised of four different muscles that ultimately join together near the knee and form the quadriceps tendon. It is the muscle that makes it possible to straighten our legs and helps us with such things as walking upstairs or getting up from a chair. Quadriceps is known to be the strongest and leanest of all muscles in our body.
Hamstrings
There are 3 muscles that form the hamstring group. They start at the back of the thigh and affect both movement in the knee and the hip. Hamstring muscles help with rotation and extension of the knee.
By working out our quadriceps and hamstrings, we are essentially helping the tendons and muscles in our knees to become stronger and work better together. To put it simply, our knees simply wouldn’t work or be able to do what they do if it weren’t for quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles.
Most exercises and stretches that doctors and physical therapists suggest and practice with patients suffering from osteoarthritis in the knee involve using the hamstrings and quadriceps. Because they connect directly to the knee, strengthening these muscles can help with stability for those who are experiencing a loss of cartilage.
When you work with the team at Arrowhead Health Centers, we put together a customized plan for you based on your needs and your specific symptoms. This often includes some physical therapy. Most likely, we will talk to you about appropriate and effective ways to strengthen the important muscle groups in your legs to help you gain better control over your osteoarthritis symptoms.
To find out more, call us today at 623-334-4000, extension 9, and set up a consultation.