Benefits

• Helps to strengthen the hips, buttocks, thigh, knee and whole leg
• Builds overall endurance as well as helping with balance
• Stimulates the heart
• The great thing about this exercise is that it works both the hips, the knees and the ankles in conjunction and rehabs all three areas

Cautions

• If there is any pain, please see your doctor and get it checked out. Sometimes hip, ankle, knee and/or joint pain can be aggravated with this exercise but if done properly, it should feel good to most people out there. Remember - don't do it if it causes you more pain. Get medical attention as soon as you can.

Key Points

• Maintain a neutral posture (straight back)
• As you're squatting down the knee of the squatting leg falls over the big toe (so in other words, sit back in your squat instead of forward)
• Straightened leg that is off floor should be as close to straight as possible (flex this foot for added challenge)

Instructions:

• If you are going to work the right knee, bring the left leg forward and lift it off the ground forward slightly
• Maintaining a neutral back, slowly squat down and as you travel down focus on bringing the right knee over the right big toe
• Hold for 2-3 seconds while you continue to breathe deeply
• Come back up from squat, change sides and repeat
• Repeat as often as needed. Every hour is always great if you have time.