Knee/Groin Exercises
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KNEE/GROIN EXERCISES RANGE OF MOTION 1. Heel slides - In the sitting position with the injured leg extended, slowly move the knee into a bent position by sliding your heel towards you. Bend as far as possible and then straighten as far as possible. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 2. Wall Slides - Lie on your back with your legs elevated against a wall and a towel underneath your heel. Place the other leg’s foot on the bottom of the towel and, with that foot, pull the towel towards the table. Once full flexion is reached, slowly return to the starting position. Perform sets of repetitions 3. Passive Prone Knee Extension (Prong Hang) - Lie on your stomach with your knee and lower leg off the end of a table or bed. Relax your leg and allow your leg to straighten. Hold position for 2 minutes. For an increased stretch, attach an ankle weight around the ankle and hold the position for 2 minutes. Perform ____________ sets of ___________ repetitions 4. Active-Assisted Flexion - Lie on your stomach and attempt to bend your injured leg into flexion as far as possible. Then, using the other leg, try to bend the knee further. Hold for an 8 to 10 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 5. Seated Flexion - Seated on a table with both knees bent, attempt to bend the injured leg as far into flexion as possible. Use the uninjured leg to assist in further flexion. Hold for a 6 count and repeat. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 6. Patellar Mobilization - Gently move the patella up, down, and side to side pain free. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions STRETCHING 1. Wall Stretch (Gastroc) Stand with feet directly in a line, approximately 6 to 10 inches apart, and with both heels on the floor. Keeping the back leg straight, gently lean forward using a table or wall for balance. Keep all of your weight over your feet. Hold for a 6 count. Perform ___________ sets of ______________ repetitions 2. Wall Stretch (Soleous) - Same stretch as above, except bend back leg and lean back slightly. Perform_____________ sets of______________ repetitions 3. Quadriceps: A. Side-Lying - Lie on your side with your knees together. Grasp your hand around your ankle. Slowly bend the leg at the knee as far as possible using your hand to pull the leg further into flexion. Hold for a 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions B. Standing Quadriceps/Hip Flexor - In standing position lunge the non-injured leg forward bending both knees and like you were going to kneel. Arch the back. Hold for a 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions C. Table Hip Flexor Stretch - Lie on your back with your legs just barely on the edge of the table. Let one leg remain hanging off of the edge while you pull the other knee towards you until a stretch is felt. Hold for a count of 10 and relax. Perform sets of repetitions 4. Hamstring: A. Sitting--Seated with both feet out in front and pointed up, knees straight, and hands on the floor behind you, sit up straight and arch your back. Lean forward for a gentle stretch, hold 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions B. Lying - Lie on your back with both legs straight. Place a belt, rope, or tie around the foot of the leg to be stretched. Grasp the belt with your hands until a nice gentle stretch is felt in the back of the leg. Hold for a 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions C. Wall - Place both heels on a wall until a stretch is achieved that can be held for 10 to 15 minutes. Move closer to the wall to receive a more intense stretch. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 5. Groin A. Butterfly - Seated, place the soles of your feet together and pull them towards you. Then place pressure on the inside of your knees with your elbows until a gentle stretch is felt. Hold for 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions B. Side Leans - Stand with feet wider then shoulders, point the toe of the leg not being stretched away from your body and the other foot straight ahead, keep the knee straight and slowly bend the knee on the opposite leg and lean out over the leg until a gentle stretch is felt. Hold for 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 6. Hip Extensors - Lying on your back, bend your knee and hip, grasp the leg under your knee, and pull the knee to your chest. Hold for a 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 7. IT Band: A. Side-wall Lean - Stand with affected side towards the wall and the opposite leg crossed over. Relax the hips towards the wall for a stretch down the outside of the upper leg. Hold for 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions B. Seated - Sit with the affected leg bent to 90 degrees and crossed over the straight opposite leg. Use the opposite side elbow to apply pressure to the outside of the affected leg's knee. Hold for a 6 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions STRENGTHENING 1. Quad Sets - Sit with knees straight and feet pointed straight up. Tighten the muscles on the front of the legs and hold for a 6 to 8 count. Remember these exercises can be performed anywhere as long as the knee is straight. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 2. Co-Contraction - Sit with feet straight, toes up, and the heel planted. Force the heel into the ground and tighten the muscles in the back of the leg and then tighten the muscles in the front of the leg. Hold both contractions for a 6 to 8 count. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 3. Straight Leg Raise (SLR) - Lie on your back. Bend the unaffected leg so the foot is equal to the knee of the affected leg. Tighten the quadriceps muscles of the affected leg and slowly raise the leg to the level of the knee of the bent leg. Hold for a 2 count and lower the leg to the floor. Add weight above the knee or around the ankle accordingly. (Your therapist may ask that you tighten the muscles in the back of your leg if there is involvement of the anterior cruciate ligament). Perform __________ sets of ___________ repetitions 4. 7-Count SLR - Lie on your back with the opposite knee bent. Add weight to ankle as needed 1. Tighten muscles in front of leg 2. Tighten harder 3. Raise the leg to the level of the bent opposite leg 4. Tighten muscles in front harder 5. Tighten harder 6. Lower the leg 7. Tighten muscles in front harder Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 5. Leg Curls: A. Prone Leg Curls - Lie on your stomach at a commercial leg machine or on a table or bed. Attempt to bend your knee and pull your heel to your buttocks. Hold for a 3 count and slowly lower. Add weight around the ankle accordingly or may also use Theraband. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions B. Standing Leg Curl - Stand next to a table with an ankle weight around the injured lower leg. Using the table for balance, attempt to bend your knee toward your buttocks as far as possible. Perform sets of repetitions 6. Leg Extensions - Sit at a commercial leg extension machine or on a table or bed. Attempt to extend your leg as far as possible. Hold for a 3 count and lower to the floor. Add weight around the ankle accordingly. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 7. Leg Extensions in Pain Free Range - Same position as #5, except place a stool under your foot or the bar of the commercial extension machine that does not allow the knee to bend farther than 45 degrees. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 8. Hip Abduction - Lie on your unaffected side and bend the opposite leg slightly for balance. Keeping the body and affected leg in line, lift the leg off the table as far as possible. Hold for a 3 count and slowly lower. Add weight above the knee or around the ankle accordingly. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 9. Hip Adduction - Lie on your affected side. Place the unaffected leg in front of the involved leg so that the foot is flat on the floor. Keep the affected leg straight and in line with the body. Lift 8-10", hold for a 3 count, and lower slowly. Add weight above the knee or around the ankle accordingly. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 10. Hip Extensions - Lying on your stomach, raise your leg straight up as far as possible, hold for a 3 count and lower. Add weight to the leg accordingly. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 11. Step-up - Stand with injured leg on a stool from 2 inches to 10 inches off the ground (the height can be varied by using any step and building the floor up using books.) Start by bending your injured leg slowly lowering the heel of your uninjured leg to the floor touching down and slowly raising backup. The process is then repeated. Perform ____________ sets of ____________ repetitions 12. 1/4 Squats (Both legs)--Stand with legs at shoulder width apart with toes slightly turned out without knees over toes. Squat down 1/4 of the way and then rise back into extension.