If done correctly squats are good for strengthening aging knees.

[snagglepuss]

snip

Although many of us have heard that squats harm knees, the exercise is actually “quite good for the knees, if you do the squats correctly,” Dr. Hart says. Simply stand with your legs shoulder-width apart and bend your legs until your thighs are almost, but not completely, parallel to the ground. Keep your upper body straight. Don’t bend forward, he says, since that movement can strain the knees. Try to complete 20 squats, using no weight at first. When that becomes easy, Dr. Hart suggests, hold a barbell with weights attached. Or simply clutch a full milk carton, which is my cheapskate’s squats routine.

Straight leg lifts are also useful for knee health. Sit on the floor with your back straight and one leg extended and the other bent toward your chest. In this position, lift the straight leg slightly off the ground and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 10 to 20 times and then switch legs.

You can also find other exercises that target the knees in this video, “Increasing Knee Stability.”

http://www.nytimes.com/video/2009/08/11/magazine/1247463944384/increasing-knee-stability.html




Of course, before starting any exercise program, consult a physician, especially, Dr. Hart says, if your knees often ache, feel stiff or emit a strange, clicking noise, which could be symptoms of arthritis.







http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/ask-well-squats-for-aging-knees/

[tridim]

1. I totally agree with this..

When I started doing squats I couldn't bend my knees more than a few inches before the pain started. Six months later, I do about 60 squats every other day where my butt almost touches the floor, no knee pain at all! I also do back-against-the-wall squats.

Great zero-impact exercise!

[Control-Z]

2. Thanks, snagglepuss!

Crappy knees run in my family. The pain started creeping up on me in the last few years. (My older sister, as well.) But it's not bad enough to even see a doctor yet. I love the idea of using exercise to maybe prevent or delay doctor's treatment.

[zipplewrath]

3. How do you not bend forward?

If I keep my back straight, I fall backwards before I ever get that low.

[snagglepuss]

5. Here's an article with some good advice about starting out. THe essential

thing is to get the right form and it suggests starting with a ball and using a wall as a safety net.

[zipplewrath]

7. Think ya fergot sumpin'

Link maybe?

[snagglepuss]

8. Ooops. Might be a good thing because I ended up doing some more digging and

the following site takes issues with wall squats using a ball. Good to start with to learn form but not helpful in the long run.

http://jeremysmith89.org/exercises-to-avoid-wall-squats-with-stability-ball/

[woodsprite]

4. In P/T, they had me do the squats with my back supported against the wall

Made sure I didn't hyperflex my knee, but held it for 20 seconds before coming back up again slowly. They said 'slowly' down and up was the key. I thought the wall squats worked best when you used an exercise ball between your back and the wall.

Another way they had me do the leg raises to strengthen the muscle on the inside edge of the knee (to keep it from subluxing) was to squeeze a 10" diameter playground ball or pillow between my knees as I did the leg raises. It causes more activation of those muscles that stabilize the kneecap.

Gotta start doing those again.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. thanks for the links. bkmrkng.

[raccoon]

9. kick. nt