Injury prevention isn’t one fitness goal to ignore, especially when it comes to your knees.
According to Kat Ellis, an NASM-certified personal trainer for obé Fitness, one way to prevent knee injuries from plaguing your workouts with pain is by building up your strength.
“The knee is a highly mobile joint that requires strong muscles to stabilize it so it doesn’t move in an injury causing pattern,” Ellis explains. “The stronger the muscles around the knee are, the less likely it is to become injured.”
Bonus: you can even work this knee strengthening focus into your cardio routine — just follow these five moves curated by Ellis, below.
Remember: Because everyone is different and knee injuries aren’t anything to mess around with, it’s always best to speak with a personal trainer or physical therapist if you have any concerns and/or previous injuries.