Do your knees a solid and kick off the morning with these simple moves.<\/p>\n
Building strength in the muscles that support your knees can help reduce stress on the knee joint. According to OrthoInfo<\/a>, strong, healthy muscles can aid in shock absorption. Maintaining knee strength is essential for supporting an active, independent lifestyle as you age. So, we spoke with Dr. Joseph Wazen<\/a>, Orthopaedic Surgeon at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (CAO), who shares five stellar morning exercises<\/a> that can help strengthen your knees<\/a> after 65.<\/p>\n Squats can be an excellent workout for your core, glutes, and quads. That said, deep squatting places you at risk of injuring your meniscus and irritating knee arthritis, Dr. Wazen explains.<\/p>\n \u201cI would never recommend deep squatting to someone over 65. If you choose to squat for exercise, the best way to do it is to modify the exercise. Performing mini squats, chair squats, or wall squats will target the same muscles without overstressing the joint or meniscus,\u201d he adds. \u201cIf the modified exercises bother your knees, then the [below] exercises are a great alternative that can be done at home without the need for weights.\u201d<\/p>\n \tStretching<\/p>\n You heard that right. Something as simple as stretching can work wonders for supporting healthy knees.<\/p>\n \u201cKeeping the muscles surrounding your knees flexible and mobile will allow for improved range of motion and reduce the risk of injury. You should stretch both before and after activity,\u201d Dr. Wazen says.<\/p>\n