Sitting knee therapy exercises build strength and increase your range of motion without standing up or lying down. Your physical therapist will provide a number of therapeutic knee exercises as part of a rehabilitative program or as an all natural way to alleviate pain. As with any exercise program, the movements best for you and how often you should do them depends on your health condition and the advice of your healthcare professional.
Seated and Supported Exercises
Seated and supported exercises give you a firm foundation from which to perform your exercises. Sitting supported knee bends is an example of an exercise for patients who just received total knee replacement surgery. Sit in a chair without a crossbar underneath. Rest your thighs on the seat for support. Put your foot behind the heel of your foot on the side with the operated knee so the heel of the affected foot is resting atop the other foot to assume the starting position. Gently bend your operated knee down and behind you as far as possible and hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat until your leg is tired or you completely regain your range of motion.
Restore Mobility
Some sitting knee therapy exercises focus on restoring mobility to this important leg joint. For example, you may use the small movements of the sitting terminal knee extension to help restore mobility to your knee after arthroscopic surgery. Sit in a chair and put the heel on the same side as your operated knee on a stool to assume the starting position. The stool should be slightly lower than the chair. Straighten your knee by contracting your kneecap and hold this position for 5 seconds. Slowly release your knee cap to return to the starting position and complete one repetition.
Muscle Strengthening
Doing exercises to increase the surrounding muscles helps support your knee joint. Strengthen the muscles of your inner thigh -- called adductors -- to help relieve patellofemoral pain. This condition is characterized by pain affiliated with your kneecap. Sit on the edge of your bed or any sturdy surface that allows your feet to dangle without touching the ground. Place a small exercise ball between your knees and squeeze your legs together to hold it in place for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat this hip adductor strengthening exercise five to 10 times.
Muscle Stretching
Stretching your muscles helps to relieve knee pain and increases your range of motion. Sit on the floor to perform the iliotibial band and butt stretch and help relieve patellofemoral pain. Sit with your legs extended in front of you. Cross your right foot over your left leg and place your right foot flat on the floor on the left side of your left knee. Put your right hand on the floor behind you for balance. Inhale as you raise your left hand into the air above your head and exhale as you lead with your head and twist to the right. Place the outside of your left elbow on the outside of your left knee, turn to look behind you and breathe for 30 seconds. Turn towards the front to release the position and repeat on the other side.
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