No matter if you’re a beginner training for a major race like the Boston Marathon or an experienced runner used to running every other day all year long, suffering an injury can be disastrous.
This exercise will help stretch out those stiff hamstrings and lower back. Taking pressure off the muscle in the front of the knee (quadriceps tendon) and alleviating the pain when running.
To complete this exercise simply:
Standing tall, bend your head, chest, and trunk downward while you steadily and gently reach for your toes.
When you’ve gone as far as you can, softly contract your glutes and slowly start to curl back up. Imagine stacking the various parts of your spine one above the other.
Complete this exercise a total of ten times to fully stretch the hamstrings and begin strengthening the lower back.
2. Bulgarian Split Squat
Bulgarian Split Squats helps improve single-leg balance while working the glutes, quads and hip flexors. This exercise may be more difficult for those with extreme knee pain and can be performed without the added weight of dumbbells.
How to: Put one foot on a low bench and slowly squat up and down while holding a weight in the other hand. Maintain a nearly vertical shin and a knee that is parallel to the ground.
Perform this exercise for 15 reps per leg for 2 rounds. As you begin to develop strength in your glutes, hips and knees you can start adding additional weight.
3. Fire Hydrant
Completing the fire hydrant activates your gluteus medius, or a muscle on your hip, and starts helping to stabilise the pelvis. This will reduce the amount of force causing your knee to rotate as you run.
How to: Put a resistance band around your knees, stand on one leg with the knee slightly bent, and slowly lift and bring back the other leg.
This exercise can also be performed kneeling on all fours to allow focus to be given to the hip flexor muscles.
Complete the fire hydrant for 15 reps per leg for a total of 2 rounds.
4.Bent Knee Heel Raise
This exercise is one of the most important exercises for building muscle strength around the knee. Bent knee heel raises activate the soleus muscle which protects the knee by absorbing the shock as your foot lands while running.
To complete this exercise: Touching the wall softly with your fingertips will help you balance as you stand on one leg. Lift and lower yourself on your toes while maintaining a little bend in the knee of your standing leg.
Holding a weight in your hand will make it harder. However, using your own body weight will still help you build muscle.
Complete bent knee heel raises for 15 reps on each leg for a total of 3 sets. You’ll begin to notice muscle development within calves and see more flexibility in your ankles.
How to: Lay on your back with the other leg extended, one foot on a low bench. Driving into the heel, clench your glutes and pull your hips up as high as possible without arching your back. Hold for a moment, then gradually reduce.
Strengthening your glutes will give you that much needed strength to continue running.
Repeat this exercise 15 times on each leg for 3 sets.
6. Hip Flexor Stretch
This stretch is perfect for warming up before a long run. Stretching the quadriceps and hip flexors to help take pressure off the patella, or kneecap.
How to: Put a pad beneath your knee and one foot on a low bench in front of you while high kneeling (with your torso vertical and your back straight). To concentrate the stretch on your anterior thigh, keep your pelvis tucked under your body.
Hold this position for 40 seconds on each side for a total of 3 rounds.
Final Thoughts
Stretching and strengthening the kneecap and the surrounding muscles is important when recovering from a knee injury.
Performing these exercises regularly will help relieve the pressure placed on your knee as you run, helping you become your best self!
Take it slow whilst doing these exercises, specifically weight exercises to avoid further injury.
Hi, I’m Richard Harris and I have been running for almost 20 years now. Since a young teenager with a little baby fat still clinging on for dear life, I have been obsessed with this simple form of cardio.
Not only have I enjoyed running every single day for two decades, but I have also been fascinated by the countless marathons and races offered around the USA. I love watching these races, and I’ve even participated in some of them too!
