What muscles support the knee?

Strengthening the muscles that support your knee will reduce stress on your knee joint. Strong muscles in the front of your thigh (quadriceps) and back of your thigh (hamstrings) help your knee joint absorb shock. The less strain on your knee, the better the chances are for pain relief and preventing further injury. read more

The muscles of the knee include the quadriceps, hamstrings, and the muscles of the calf. These muscles work in groups to flex, extend and stabilize the knee joint. These motions of the knee allow the body to perform such important movements as walking, running, kicking, and jumping. read more

Location: back of the thigh from the hip to the knee Action: bend the knee Common activities: running, twisting the knee Common problems: tightness, weakness, muscle tear, tendonitis The hamstrings are made up of three muscles found in the back of the thigh. read more

the calf muscle (gastrocnemius), which helps the knee and ankle bend. the hamstrings, three muscles in back of your thighs that contract when you bend your knees, helping support your weight as you sit down, and helping to extend the hip as you get up. read more