YOGA FOR KNEES

  

Written By Dr. Rita Khanna

Knee pain is a nagging malady, which can immobilize a person – thus making one helpless. Knee pain may vary from mild to severe, depending on the cause of the pain. Severe knee pain can be debilitating, as flexibility of the knees is vital to our mobility. The knees work almost like shock absorbers and along with the surrounding muscles; it has to sustain and support your weight.
Yoga is one of the best ways to deal with chronic knee pain. Practiced with care, Yoga postures can contribute to the long-term health of your knees, by strengthening your quadriceps, opening your stiff hips, and teaching your body improved alignment and movement patterns that transfer into your everyday activities.

OUR KNEE

The knee is made up of four bones. The femur (the thighbone) is the large bone in your thigh and is attached by ligaments and a capsule to your tibia (the shinbone). Just below, and next to the tibia, is the fibula, which runs parallel to the tibia in the leg. The patella (the kneecap) rides on the knee joint as the knee bends. A membrane called a synovial sac protects the joint and secretes the synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant and provides nourishment to the articular cartilage & lines the joint. Other tissues that make up the knee joint include cartilage, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Two crescent-shaped pads of cartilage, each called a meniscus, sit between the shinbone and the thighbone, and act as cushions between the bones and shock absorbers during movement. It helps to protect the joint and allows the bones to slide freely on each other. Two sets of ligaments—the cruciates and the collaterals—strap all four bones in place. The cruciates crisscross below the kneecap; the collaterals run alongside the outside of the kneecap. The leg’s substantial muscles help these ligaments keep the bones properly aligned. To function well, a person needs to have strong and flexible muscles. In addition, the meniscal cartilage, articular cartilage, and ligaments must be smooth and strong.

YOGA & KNEE PAIN

Yoga is excellent for increasing strength and flexibility in knees. It improves circulation in the joints and flushes out toxins and other wastes. The improved circulation also implies improved nourishment for the surrounding joints and ligaments. As with any other discipline, it is necessary for you to consult a skilled and qualified practitioner before attempting any practice. Following are very simple exercises that can be very helpful for rejuvenating knee joints.

PULLING UP KNEE CAPS IN SITTING POSTION



 Sit with legs outstretched, place the palms on the floor, just behind the buttocks – the back, neck, and head should be straight; straighten the elbows, lean back slightly – taking the support of the arms. Pull up your kneecaps by squeezing your thigh muscles gently. Relax. Do 10 times with the breath. Repeat it many times in a day. This helps support your knees.

VARIATIONS IN STANDING POSITIONS



 • Stand tall, move your feet close enough to hold a ball or thick book between your thighs. Arms straight at your sides and shoulders relaxed. Squeeze your thighs gently, without locking your knees. Hold it for some time. Repeat 10 times.
• Stand tall, turn your heels in and keep them together. Notice that this engages your thigh muscles, causing your kneecaps to rise. Repeat 10 times.
• Same as above, now instead of heals – bring the toes in and keep them together. Repeat 10 times.



 KNEE ROTATION


  
Sit with legs outstretched, bend the right knee and place the right arm under the right thigh; hold the right wrist with the left hand. Inhale, raise your right leg up to an angle of 90 degrees, and rotate your lower leg from the knee to ankle in a large circular movement; exhale on the downward moment. Try to straighten the leg at the top of the upward movement. The upper leg and trunk should be completely still. Repeat 10 times clockwise,10 times counter-clockwise. Repeat this process with the left leg.

CYCLING



Lie on your back with the legs outstretched, inhale, bend the right leg at the knee, and bring it to the chest, then raise & straighten the leg upward toward the ceiling completely. Exhale and lower the straight leg in a forward position. Do not keep it on the floor. Bend the knee and bring it back to the chest to complete the cycle. Repeat 10 times clockwise, 0 times counter-clockwise. Repeat this process with the left leg.

 RECLINING LEG EXTENSION & ITS VARIATION

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Keeping your left foot on the floor, lift your right knee up toward your chest and then straighten your right leg upward toward the ceiling. Grab your right calf or thigh. Press your lower back into the floor. Flex your right foot, pointing your toes back toward your face, without locking your knee. Hold for 3 to 5 breaths. Repeat the pose on the other side. Do 3-5 times with each leg.


  
VARIATION



 If you would like to move onto a deeper, more advanced stretch, raise your torso up and move your forehead toward your knee. Hold for 3 to 5 breaths. To release, gently lower your torso and your right foot to the floor.

CYCLING ON THE ABDOMEN

 

 Lie face down on the abdomen; keep both legs straight and slightly apart; raise the head up; and rest the chin on the palms, with the elbows on the floor. Now, from behind, bend alternate legs towards the hips with natural breathing for some time. Then do the same with both legs by bringing the feet together.

ARDHA SHALBHASANA



Lie on your stomach, with your forehead or chin on the floor, place your palms and forearms under your shoulders – legs together. Bend your right knee from behind towards the right buttock. Pressing down with the left forearm, take your right arm backward and hold the right foot in a way that you curl your fingers over the tip of your toes, with your elbow facing up toward the ceiling.
The base of your palm should be pressing the top of the foot. Now, press your foot toward the buttock; after a while, if you have the flexibility, take the foot slightly off to the side, and press it toward the floor. Be sure to keep your knee in line with your hip. Don’t push your foot too hard if it hurts your knee. Square your shoulders with the front of the mat, and don’t collapse into your left shoulder. Instead, press down with your elbow to lift your chest. Repeat on the left side. Repeat 3 to 5 times on each side.

 ADHOMUKHA SHAVASNA






Come onto the floor on all fours. Curl your toes under. Spread your fingers wide apart. Keep your hands as wide as your shoulders and feet as wide as your hip. While exhaling, lift your knees away from the floor, forming a nice “V” shape with your legs. At first, keep the knees slightly bent and the heels lifted away from the floor. Slowly, and consciously, stretch your legs and arms, by raising your hips and tailbone up towards the ceiling. Push the heels downwards to the floor. Drop your head between the arms. Bring the chin closer to the chest – to relax the back of the neck. Stay in this position for some time, with natural breathing, and then come back. To release, bend your knees and return to the starting position.

The best way to prevent a knee problem is to maintain a healthy weight and improve the flexibility and conditioning of the knee’s stabilizing muscles, so that the joint is less vulnerable.
If you feel inspired by this article, feel free to publish it in your Newsletter or on your Website. Our humble request is to please include the Resource as follows: Courtesy: Dr. Rita Khanna’s Yogashaastra Studio. A popular studio that helps you find natural solutions for complete health.
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Dr. Rita Khanna
Dr. Rita Khanna is a well-known name in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy. She was initiated into this discipline over 25 years ago by world famous Swami Adyatmananda of Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh(India).

She believes firmly that Yoga is a scientific process, which helps us to lead a healthy and disease-free life. She is also actively involved in practicing alternative medicines like Naturopathy. Over the years, she has been successfully practicing these therapies and providing succour to several chronic and terminally ill patients through Yoga, Diet and Naturopathy. She is also imparting Yoga Teachers Training.
At present, Dr. Rita Khanna is running a Yoga Studio in Secunderabad (Hyderabad, India).