Pilates exercises for knee injuries
Your knee is the largest joint in your body and is one of the most commonly injured. It supports a great deal of your body weight, and bears the stress of everyday activity, sports, or aging muscles, tendons, and ligaments, all of which make it very prone to injury.
The knee is a hinge joint, its primary function being flexion and extension. Your knee is comprised of bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, any one of which can sustain an injury. The most common injuries include:
- Fractures around the knee
- Dislocation
- Sprains/tears of soft tissues
Many types of knee injuries are treated with simple, non-surgical measures which may include immobilization, NSAID’s, and physical therapy exercises.
Low impact exercises that help to strengthen the muscles surrounding your knee joint and those that are supporting it can not only help with rehabilitation after an injury, but can also help to prevent knee injuries and the pain that comes with many of them. Pilates exercises are low-impact and help to improve your core strength and balance, build muscle tone, and increase your body awareness and flexibility.
Studies have shown that decreased core stability may increase your risk for injuries to your knee and other joints in the lower extremities. By improving your core strength with Pilates exercises, you can provide a more stable “base” for the movement of your knees.
Restoring your knee function
Some of the best knee strengthening knee exercises are done using the Pilates Reformer. The Reformer looks like a bed with springs and pulleys. The idea behind using the Reformer is that you’re using the mechanical resistance in the springs and pulleys to target your muscles.
The Reformer uses spring tension which is gentle on your joints and is low impact which makes it especially good for knee injury exercise. Examples of some Reformer exercises that can help with knee rehabilitation are:
- The Footwork
- Feet in Straps
- Bridging
- Side lying movements
These and other Reformer exercises help to not only improve the strength of the muscles that support your knees, such as the gluteals, hamstrings, quads, and hip adductors, but also help to improve the strength and alignment of your whole lower body.
We can help you reach your goals
The Pilates exercises performed on the Reformer make use of controlled resistance which is why it’s so beneficial with respect to knee rehabilitation. Propel Pilates and Fitness, located in Rancho Bernardo, offers a wide range of Reformer classes for all levels of difficulty. We carry the top of the line Pilates Reformers machines, and our expert Pilates instructors will guide you through a program especially designed to restore your knees to their optimal function.
If you are looking for low-impact exercises to help strengthen your knees so that you can get back to engaging in the activities that you enjoy, contact us today to learn about our Reformer classes.