Benefits of Eccentric Knee Exercises

Time Under Tension

Using eccentric exercises is a great way to place a specific body part (in this case the knee) under a great deal of tension for a long time. This allows us to move through a rather short range of motion but for a long enough time that it can still create a stimulus. If these exercises were performed with any sort of speed they would be ineffective. This is why adding an eccentric nature to the exercise is extremely beneficial.

Rehabilitation

Eccentric exercises can be extremely effective when working to rehabilitate a specific body part. This is because they allow us to put emphasis on building stability and control, while focusing on technique.

Exposure to a Small, Controlled Stimulus

Eccentric exercises for the knee allow us to provide the knee with a very small stimulus that can ensure that we are both avoiding pain signals but also progressing in terms of strength and stability.

How To Implement Eccentric Knee Exercises

Full Body Resistance Training

Working around injuries during a well designed full body resistance training can be an excellent way to ensure you are staying in great health whilst rehabilitating your injury. If you already do plenty of strength training, then this is by far the best option that will make the rehab process much easier to deal with.

Rehab Sessions

If you are short on time or just not interested in strength training outside your rehabilitation then pure rehab sessions will be very effective. These can be monotonous, so make sure that you’re planning them into your week and that you are getting them done. Also, do not pick multiple exercises to work the knee during one session, this will be exposing it to too much stimulus. It goes without saying that any strength training your planning on doing should be discussed with your physiotherapist beforehand.

Progressive Overload

In order to progress from where you are to where you want to be, you will need to apply progressive overload, the slow and methodical increase of work to the exercise you are trying to improve. This means starting light and easy, then progressing intensity once you have adapted to the stimulus.

4 Eccentric Knee Exercises to Add to Your Rehab / Pre-hab Protocol