Muscle strength exercises for patients with osteoarthritis

  In addition to conventional treatment for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, it is important to build muscle strength in the leg. The following is a method for thigh muscle strength. This exercise should be done twice a day, 20 times each time.  1.Sit with your legs straight on the floor or bed, bend your feet toward yourself and press your knees down toward the floor to tense the femoral muscles, maintain this position, count from 1 to 5, and then relax completely.  2. Repeat as above, keeping the knee straight, raise the foot from the floor about 5-10cm and count to 5. 3. Repeat as above, put a rolled towel under the knee, straighten the knee and count to 5. This is the only exercise that allows the lower part of the knee to be put under the support (never put the towel under the knee when sleeping, this is comfortable but will increase the possibility of deformity).  4. Take a sitting position, place the knee on the edge of the bed, straighten the knee completely and hold it, count to 5. After these exercises are skilled, add weight to the foot in small amounts, using microwave mittens or socks tied together and hanging from the ankle, this is the most appropriate starting weight, any increase in weight must be gradual.