Yoga for Healthy Knees

Healthy knees depend upon strong and flexible feet, ankles and hips

Our internal kinetic chain

All of our joints are interconnected along an internal kinetic chain that begins at our feet and reaches all the way through our body. Because of their chain like properties, our joints are able communicate with one another via posture and movement, and when we create health in one joint it sends a positive ripple effect along to its neighbors. This ability of our joints to interact forms the basis for an intelligently aligned and integral yoga practice.

When it comes to the legs, healthy biomechanical functioning at the feet and ankles reflects up to health in the knees and then on to the hips, and vice versa. In the lower body these positive effects can reach from the feet all the way through to the lower back and even beyond.

This series of articles will explore each of the major leg joints, the interconnections they share and how yoga can help develop strong, healthy knees.

The knees

The knee joint is the largest joint in the body and essential to many of our daily activities including standing, walking, running and sitting. We wouldn’t get far without it. Unfortunately, it’s also prone to injury and millions of Americans visit their doctors complaining of a variety of knee complaints each year. Read more…

The feet

Our feet form the foundation for our upright body. Whether standing or in movement, whatever happens at the feet reflects all the way through the leg joints to the rest of the body. And when it comes to the healthy knees, strong aware feet are essential. Read more…

The ankles

The ankle joint transmits the weight of the body through to the feet and withstands thousands of steps each day, along with sending constant neurological feedback to the brain so that you can stand upright. This makes it an important joint along the kinetic chain of the leg. Read more…

The hips

The hip joint is a large ball and socket joint with a diverse range of motion. It can flex forward, extend backward, adduct to the midline, abduct out to the side, and internally and externally rotate in the socket. The knee joint on the other hand is relatively small and mainly designed to flex bent and extend straight. Read more…

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