This strengthening exercise program includes exercises that have been shown to be
beneficial for people with knee osteoarthritis. The exercises aim to improve the strength
of certain muscles that will provide better support for the knee during walking and
other tasks. Stronger muscles help to cushion as well as support and protect the joint.
Stronger muscles also make it easier to perform many daily activities, such as standing
up from a chair.
There are points to remember when doing strengthening exercises:
Do all your exercises at least 3 times a week.
To get stronger, you need to feel like the exercise was ‘hard’ or ‘very hard’ when you
did it. If it felt ‘easy’, you may not be gaining strength.
If you experience difficulty performing any exercise, talk to your health professional
on your next visit so that the exercise can be reviewed and modified if necessary.
Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to get the right set of exercises for you.
You should progress to the next stage when knee exercises feel ‘easy’.