Knee Flex Exercise to Improve Balance

The knee flex exercise is used to improve balance.

1. Stand straight; hold onto table or chair for balance.
2. Slowly bend the knee as far as possible, so foot lifts up behind you (or your heel is moving toward your buttocks).
3. Hold position.
4. Slowly lower foot all the way back down.
5. Repeat with other leg.
6. Add modifications as you progress.

Do the knee flex as part of your regularly scheduled strength exercises, and add these modifications as you progress to improve your balance:

Hold the chair with one hand, then one fingertip, then no hands; then do exercise with eyes closed, if steady.

Click here for a printable weekly schedule for exercising: Strength Exercises Daily Record.

Last Editorial Review: 2/10/2003