Osteoarthritis (OA) — a degenerative joint disease — is one of the five leading causes of disability among older women and men and is the most common type of arthritis. OA is characterized by a breakdown of cartilage in any joint in the body, although it’s most frequently seen in weight-bearing joints such as the spine, hips, and knees. Symptoms of this “wear and tear” condition include sore joints, pain after increased activity or extended periods of inactivity, joint deformity, and fluid accumulation.
It’s estimated that one out of two Americans will develop knee OA over the course of their life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women are at greater risk than men. Other people at risk include overweight individuals, people with a history of trauma to the knee, or those whose jobs require heavy kneeling or squatting.
While treatment — including physical therapy, weight loss, pain-relieving drugs, anti-inflammatory injections, and surgery — is tailored to each patient, experts agree that stretching is an important part of any OA treatment plan. Stretching can help improve knee function, increase range of motion, and relieve discomfort.
So grab a mat and a towel or strap and read on for four easy knee moves that can be done at the gym or in the comfort of your own home.
Standing Calf Stretch
Stand facing a wall with your right leg in front of you and your left leg behind. Placing your hands on the wall for support, slowly bend your right front knee and lean into the wall, pressing the left heel to the floor. Once you feel a stretch in your left calf muscle, hold for 30 seconds, and then slowly relax. Repeat the stretch twice more before switching sides and repeating.
Bonus: A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that knee OA patients who performed standing calf stretches as part of an overall exercise routine experienced improved function and reported less pain and stiffness than those who did not.