Another Article, this week, about knee injuries in Baby Boomers, and how exercise can help many of us avoid surgery.
I won’t go on a rant about how Western medicine is all about the money generated for big pharma and unnecessary surgeries. Instead, I will tell you about a knee strengthening exercise that I have been teaching my clients and students for the last few years which has helped many of them avoid knee surgery. At the very least, it can reduce pain and strengthen your knees.
When I showed this exercise to my friend Dr. Carolyn Dean, several years back, she termed them, “Super Squats,” and I’ve kept that name because the results are, “SUPER!”
As the above article says, meniscal tears affect many of us at some point in our lives. A meniscal tear happens when there is damage to the cushioning that surrounds the knee. Most orthopedic surgeons agree that the size of the tear matters, but for many of us Baby Boomers, this happens after many years of normal wear and tear, and not due to a football injury.
What I have found is that the exercises we are given, like normal squats, strengthen the muscles above or below your knee, but not many strengthen the muscles on the sides of the knee. This is the key problem; we need an exercise that does both. Voila, Super Squats to the rescue! In case you haven’t figured that out yet, I love this exercise!!!! I think it should be taught to kids in school as part of the regular PE curriculum, for healthier knees as we age.
Everyone that does this exercise consistently improves the condition and strength of their knees. It takes only a few minutes to do and just about everyone can do it, with or without modifications.
Super Squats strengthen ALL the muscles surrounding your knee. This makes the knee more stable so that ordinary walking does not wear or tear as much; also, when you step off a curb or onto an uneven surface, the knee is more stable and less likely to twist out of alignment.
I recommend doing this at least three times a week. If you are currently in pain, try it daily for a couple of weeks, and then, after you feel better, go to three times a week.
Also, if you have not done a squat before, please check these photos for placement of your feet to avoid over extension of your knees. Toes are above my foot. Make sure yours are too!
If you’d like to work with me privately, for this and other exercises, let’s set up a time to chat about your personal health and wellness, what you’d like to achieve, and how to get there! Hit reply or send me an e-mail here.
Best of Health,
Kathi
