Hesperian Health Guides
Strengthening Exercise for the Muscles on the Side of the Hip
HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 42: Range-of-Motion and Other Exercises > Strengthening Exercises to Help Your Child Have Stronger Thighs
EXERCISE SHEET 7
weak muscles here
PROBLEM
Weak muscles in the front part of the upper leg (thigh muscles) make it difficult to support weight with that leg.
 Let's see how long I can hold it: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12... |
Raise your leg and hold it up until you cannot hold it up any longer. Then lower it as slowly as you can. Repeat as many times as possible (until you cannot lift the leg more). |
Do this exercise 2 or 3 times a day.
 |
| If her thigh is quite weak, have her straighten and bend her leg lying sideways. She may need to have the leg supported. |
 You lift. I'll help. |
 |
| If the child cannot straighten her leg by herself, help her, but ask her to use all her strength too. | When his thigh is stronger, put a little bag of sand on his ankle so that he will use more strength to raise it. |
| It also helps to stand on the leg, then bend as far as possible and straighten again. Repeat many times. |  |
 |
| If the leg gets strong enough, practice going up and down steps. Start with low steps and slowly progress to higher ones. |
 |
 homemade tricycle |
| Climbing hills or riding a tricycle or bicycle also helps strengthen the thighs. |
This page was updated:04 Apr 2024