Knee Rehab Exercise: The Step-Down
Knee Rehab with the Step-Down
Knee rehab can feel long and scary, but the simple step-down exercise is great for patients recovering from knee pain or injury. It is a great beginner exercise to re-train yourself to go up and down stairs normally again! This exercise strengthens the muscles supporting the knee like the quad muscle at the front of the thigh. I love this exercise because it directly translates to the movement we’re improving, difficulty using the stairs, which is very common in post-knee injury patients. So if you have had a knee injury this exercise is perfect for you!
How-To Steps:
- On the edge of a low step, stand on your affected leg with the other leg hovering in front of the step.
- Slowly bend the affected leg (the one staying on the step) as you lower the other leg down to the floor heel first.
- Bend the affected leg far enough so that you can touch the heel of the other leg to the ground. Now that your foot is on the ground, step off the step. Repeat this ten times.
*Never do an exercise that causes you pain*