#1 Exercise for Knee Pain

If you only have time for one exercise to strengthen your knees, hop on a bike or do a set of simple air squats

Michelle Crouch,

Updated February 11, 2026

AARP

Reviewed by

Peter Ronai

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Published February 06, 2025

/ Updated February 11, 2026

Doing squats or mini-squats strengthens the primary muscles that support your knees.

Mary Beth Koeth

As we get older, knee discomfort and stiffness become common issues, caused by arthritis and wear and tear after years of use. One in 4 adults over age 55 has knee pain, according to the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. The good news is that exercise can help strengthen and stabilize your knees, reducing discomfort and improving your mobility, says Dr. Anthony Beutler, medical director for sports medicine at Intermountain Health.

The likelihood of knee pain increases with age. Women and obese adults face a higher risk than other groups, according to a 2020 analysis of studies published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.

Beutler says that by far the best exercise for your knees is cycling, either on a stationary bike or a regular one. Biking strengthens all of the muscles around your knee joint without putting too much force on it, he says, which is especially important if you already have pain.

#1 Exercise Series

Do these to stay strong as you age

A 2024 study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that people who cycled at any point in their life were 17 percent less likely than non-cyclists to develop knee pain, and 21 percent less likely to develop arthritis with pain in the knee joint.

“Biking is the number one most awesome exercise for any knee: a replaced knee, a native knee, a knee with osteoarthritis or a knee that’s otherwise pretty good,” Beutler says. “It moves your knee. Knees like to move. Motion is lotion.”

If balance on an upright bike is a concern, a stationary recumbent bike offers the same benefits.

No bike? Try a set of squats or mini-squats

If you don’t have access to a bike, Beutler and other experts recommend a squat or a mini-squat to strengthen the quadriceps at the front of your thigh, the primary muscle supporting your knee.

A deep squat can put pressure on your knee joint, so if you have knee pain, just go down as far as you can comfortably, Beutler says. You will still get the benefits if you do a mini-squat, with less strain on your knee.

Squats also target your calves, hamstrings and glutes, as well as muscles in your lower back and core. As a bonus, many fitness experts believe squats are the best exercise to do as you get older.

How to perform a squat or mini-squat in three steps

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do squats or mini-squats. Remember to talk to your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine. And if you feel pain with movement, stop and consult with a health care provider or physical therapist.

1. Get in position

Start with your feet shoulder-width apart or a little wider, your toes pointed slightly out. If you’re new to squats, choose a spot where you can hold on to a chair or another steady surface, or squat against a wall.

2. Lower into a squat

Keeping your back straight and chest up, bend your knees and push your hips back like you are sitting down. Focus on shifting your weight into your heels as you do the movement, Beutler says. Make sure your knees don’t cave in or extend forward over your toes.

You don’t need to do a deep bend to get the benefits, Beutler says; just lower yourself as far as you can comfortably go. A mini-squat is great if that’s what you can do.

3. Repeat

Aim for two sets of eight to 10 at a tempo of two seconds down, two seconds up. If two sets are easy, make it more challenging by holding weights or using resistance bands tucked under your feet.

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Michelle Crouch is a North Carolina-based writer who has covered health issues for Reader’s Digest, The Washington Post and other publications. She has written for the Bulletin for more than a decade.