Effective Knee Exercises for Aging Adults

By Brett Sanders 9  am On

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Injury, osteoarthritis, and a host of other issues can result in seniors having pain in their knees. However, it’s possible to help your elderly loved one get his or her knees and the surrounding muscles and joints into better shape. Here’s a list of exercises that can strengthen your loved one’s knees and relieve existing pain. 

 

Knee Extensions

This should be an easy exercise for your loved one to perform, but the impact on knee health is significant. The purpose of this exercise is to strengthen the knee and help your loved one maintain balance and prevent falls. The exercise can also help your loved one stand more easily and increase the range of motion in his or her knees. Extending the knees is necessary to maintain functional independence, and knee extension exercises can help your loved one accomplish that.

Elderly home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.

 

Standing Knee Flexes

This exercise strengthens your loved one’s hamstring muscles, and it can be performed while standing or with the use of a walker. When done correctly, standing knee flexion helps your loved one increase his or her balance. The muscles behind your loved one’s knees should have greater flexibility as a result, and he or she may begin to walk better. Make sure your loved one remains balanced and keeps his or her thighs together when performing this exercise.

 

Water Exercises

When your loved one walks in the shallow end of a pool, he or she can build muscle strength and knee flexibility. Water exercises can relieve pain and stiffness in the knees. Your loved one will have to work a little harder when doing exercises in water, but they’re not strenuous. In fact, the water cushions stiff joints and fragile bones that might make certain exercises difficult to perform on land.

A home caregiver can assist your loved one with safe and effective exercise. Seniors looking to stay healthy as they age can gain many benefits from professional support. Families in Reston can rely on at home care Reston services from Assisting Hands Home Care to help their loved ones manage daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier, more fulfilling life.

 

Leg Dips

This is another exercise your loved one can perform while standing. Leg dips strengthen the muscles in the thighs, which should make it easier to walk and stand. When your loved one exercises the muscles around the knee joints, he or she is making them stronger and less prone to injury. Doing leg dips can prevent the knees from stiffening, make movement easier, and reduce knee pain.

Regular exercise is important for seniors to strengthen their bodies and reduce the risk of injury. If your loved one needs help with daily exercise, Assisting Hands Home Care can provide the support they need. Caring for a senior can sometimes feel overwhelming, which is why professional respite care Reston services are so valuable. Families in Reston can trust Assisting Hands Home Care, where our caregivers offer round-the-clock assistance with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and more, giving families the time to focus on other responsibilities or simply take a well-deserved break. Call us today to learn more about our high-quality in-home care services.

   

About the author

Contributor

Brett Sanders

Brett Sanders is the owner of Assisting Hands Home Care Reston, where he has spent nearly a decade serving families across Northern Virginia. As a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Brett is committed to helping older adults remain safe, comfortable, and independent at home while giving families confidence and peace of mind. He is deeply engaged in the local senior care community and has supported organizations including Meals on Wheels, Dementia Friendly America, local Villages, Insight Memory Care Center, The Stroke Comeback Center, and Senior Services of Alexandria. Outside of work, Brett enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons, staying active through CrossFit, following the Washington Nationals, and attending live music events.