Perhaps one of the more complicated joints to rehabilitate following injury is the knee, due to its anatomical complexity. Knee injury patients can benefit greatly from a therapeutic exercise program incorporating eccentric muscle contractions. According to the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), an eccentric contraction is a movement that actively lengthens a muscle or muscle group normally surrounding a particular joint. Patients have numerous examples of exercises in order to achieve this movement.
Quadriceps Strengthening
In order to fully rehabilitate an injured knee joint, patients will need to focus on building strength in the muscles surrounding the joint in order to promote increased stability and to decrease the prevalence of future injury. The quadriceps muscle group on the front of the thigh is used to straighten the leg at the knee joint while also providing stabilization during a knee bend. According to the UCSD, bending the knee will lengthen the quadriceps muscle while still building muscle strength. Examples of exercises that require a knee bend include climbing and going down stairs, leg squats with varying levels of resistance and leg curls while lying on the stomach.
Hamstring Strengthening
Based on the back part of the thigh, the hamstring muscle group is responsible for bending the knee and for stabilization factors during leg straightening. In order to promote an eccentric muscle movement to elongate the hamstring muscle group, patients will be required to straighten the leg and knee, according to Kurt E. Jacobson, M.D., of the Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation. Examples of exercises that promote eccentric hamstring muscle contraction include any movement that requires extension of the knee joint, such as lower leg lifts, shin presses (forcing the lower leg toward the ground with added resistance) while lying on the stomach, and rising up from a leg squat.
Calf Muscle Strengthening
According to the PodiatryNetwork.com website, some knee problems can be caused by issues with the calf muscles located on the back of the lower leg. These muscles are used mostly in ankle movements; however, they originate from the hamstring muscle group on the back of the thigh. In order to lengthen the calf muscles and promote an eccentric muscle movement, patients should focus on toe lifts (sitting or standing while bending the ankle in order to lift the toes upward) and stretching exercises, such as standing on the edge of a step and slowly lowering the heel toward the lower step.
Member Comments
krashman February 15
The calf muscles do not originate from the hamstrings, in addition you can not work your quads in prone by performing a curl