The knee is one of the big joints that bear the body weight and major load in various movements. Walking, standing, sitting, running and jumping all involve this joint. That is why it is so easily injured, as in strain by excessive movements; sprain by unexpected twisting, knocking or tumbling; and rheumatism by exposure to cold and damp. In all these conditions, there is difficulty in moving the knee joint.

It is held in traditional Chinese medicine that the knee joint is the site where the tendons of major muscles of the lower extremity congregate. Difficulty in movement of the knee joint or the need to lean on a stick while walking is a sign of failure in the functions of these tendons. Several thousand years ago, the Chinese treated the diseased knee joint by decoctions, hot medicated compress, acupuncture and physical exercise. In the Jin Dynasty, Chao Yuanfang collected more than twenty kinds of physical exercises for the treatment of knee joint diseases in his General Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Diseases (610). These exercises have been handed down for more than one thousand years, and similar actions are still in use at present. The following are some of the simple exercises.

1. Holding the knees close to the chest: Stand erect, and relax the whole body. Raising the right leg and bending the knee, hold the knee with both hands and force the knee close to the chest. After a while, drop the hands and let the right leg return to its original position. Then raise the left leg and exercise as described above.
Repeat for ten to fifteen times (see Fig. 1).

If there is difficulty in standing during flexion of the knee. Take a supine position. Hold the knee with both hands and force the knee as close to the chest as possible (see Fig. 2).

Consistent practice of this exercise can reduce the difficulty in flexion and extension of the knee.

2. Twisting the knees in rotation: Place the legs together and bend the knees to form a half-squatting position. Support the knees with the hands and gently rotate in all directions: clockwise and counterclockwise alternately for ten to fifteen turns. The action should not be too rapid or violent (see Fig. 3).

This exercise can increase the strength of the ligaments of the knee, which is not only beneficial to the flexion and extension of the knee, but also effective for treating chronic rheumatism.

3. Bending knees and squatting: Stand with the legs apart at shoulder's width. Support the knees with hands and slowly squat down, moving the buttocks as close to the calves as possible. After staying in this position for a while, gradually stand up. Repeat for five to ten times (see Fig. 4).

This exercise is good for strengthening the muscles of the thigh, especially the quaclriceps muscle.

Consistent practice will lead to definite results and even greater effectiveness if combined with drug therapy. It should be noted that in the acute stage of injury or rheumatism with swelling and congestion of the knee joint, forced actions are contraindicated. The exercise can be started only when the acute stage is over.
Other diseases of the knee joint such as meniscus injury or chondromalacia patellae should only be thus treated under a doctor's direction.

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