An unstable knee can cause you to lose your balance, fall or twist your knee, resulting in sprains and injuries. Your doctor may recommend specific exercises to help rehabilitate your knee and restore mobility. Consult your doctor to obtain a proper diagnosis before performing knee stretches and exercises.
Causes
The most common causes of unstable knees are an injury to your anterior cruciate ligament, also known as an ACL injury; injury to your posterior cruciate ligament, commonly referred to as a PCL injury; injury to your medial collateral ligament, also known as an MCL injury; and/or injury to the posterolateral complex of the knee, says the Sports Medicine Institute of the University of Minnesota. According to Drugs.com, unstable knees can also occur due to a knee sprain, if you've overstretched or torn one of the ligaments in your knee, usually due to exercise or a sports injury. An unstable kneecap may also be the result of dislocated kneecap due to a sharp blow or fall.
Symptoms
Symptoms of an unstable knee include the feeling of your knee "giving way" while walking or going down a flight of stairs. You may feel a sudden loss of balance or as though your knee has locked. Pain and limitations in your range of motion are common, especially if the injury is the result of a knee sprain, according to Drugs.com.
Treatments
Knee instability is usually treated through a number of nonsurgical methods. If your kneecap has been dislocated, your doctor will first reset the knee, although your knee will often naturally return to its original position, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Braces can reduce inflammation and swelling, especially if instability is the result of a sprain. Specific exercises, stretches and strengthening exercises can help improve strength and help your knee maintain proper alignment. Surgery may be recommended in serious cases if your knee is chronically unstable.
Specific Exercises
Strengthening the muscles in your thigh is beneficial for knee instability. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, cycling is often recommended for rehabilitation and as a part of your physical therapy treatment. Your doctor may suggest resuming your normal activities after a certain period of time to help maintain your range of motion and to prevent stiffness and inflexibility. Specific strengthening exercises, such as the squat, can help enhance knee stability, say authors William E. Garrett and Donald T. Kirkendall in their book, "Exercise and Sport Science."
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