Stretching Exercise to Straighten a Stiff Knee

This content is from page 384 of Disabled Village Children

tight cord

short muscle

PROBLEM
The muscle and cord here are too short and tight. For this reason the knee will not straighten.

Ask the child to straighten his knee as much as he can by himself (if he can do it at all). Then help him slowly straighten it as far as it will go.

Both of you keep working to hold the knee as straight as possible while you count slowly to 25. Repeat several times. Do this exercise 3 times a day.

If the foot also has a contracture, try to hold or bend it up while you stretch the cord behind the knee.

Push down the thigh with one hand here.

With your arm, support the leg and bend the foot forward.

Use pressure here just below the knee to raise the leg.

LIKE THIS	NOT LIKE THIS
dislocation
BE CAREFUL. Never try to straighten the leg by pulling the foot. Instead of stretching the cord, this could dislocate the knee or break the leg. The danger is especially great when the leg is very weak or when the child cannot walk.

When you get the knee as straight as you can with the hip extended, gradually lift the leg higher, keeping the knee straight.

This page was updated:25 Nov 2024

Hesperian Health Guides