Lying wall slides are knee rehabilitation exercises to improve flexion of the knee.
Page updated March 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Get help to position yourself facing a wall with both legs extended up the wall. This is the starting position.
Allow the weight of the problem leg to help it slide down the wall.
When it has gone as far as it can, use the good leg to help it up the wall again.
Passive flexion stretch
The lying wall slides exercise is a passive flexion stretch, using the weight of the limb itself to gently force the knee into flexion.
It may be easier to do the exercise with a helper and perhaps lie adjacent to a door opening, so that it is easier to swing the knees up.
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Quote from peer-reviewed paper:
"....physical therapy can improve knee pain and function with non-operative treatment...knee pain and function can significantly improve by increasing knee range of motion...."
Citation: Shelbourne KD, Biggs A, Gray T. Deconditioned Knee: The Effectiveness of a Rehabilitation Program that Restores Normal Knee Motion to Improve Symptoms and Function. N Am J Sports Phys Ther. 2007 May;2(2):81-9. PMID: 21522205; PMCID: PMC2953293.
Assisted flexion
If a point is reached where the knee is too stiff to continue, then you can use the good leg to help it go down a little bit more.
Also relevant -
eBook - Cornerstones of Early Knee Rehabilitation
- authored by Mr Sebastiano Nutarelli (Physiotherapist). Free to download.
eBook - Objectives of Knee Rehabilitation
- authored by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor). Free to download.