The beauty of the wall sit is it is what I call “client friendly”. Because even if you have pain and/or inflammation in your knees, often caused by wear and tear of your cartilage, or simply have a limited range of motion in your knees, then more than times and not you CAN DO this exercise.
And the wall sit is a static exercise, and static exercises do not require movement, which means they’re activating your muscles and stimulating your nervous system without involving the movement/wearing and tearing of your joints. So if your knees grind or crack, check with your doctor first, but in all likelihood this will be a safe and effective exercise for you.
Directions: With your back against a wall and feet on the floor, slide down the wall until your legs are at a 90 degree angle or slightly higher, as though you are sitting in an invisible chair.
Hold this position for anywhere from 10 seconds to 3 minutes depending upon your ability. Repeat 1-3 times with at least one minute rest periods in between.
Main muscles used: quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes
Make it easier:
- Push your back up a little higher on the wall so you are not at a full 90 degree angle.
- hold for 5 seconds at a time, do it twice per day, and work your way up to 30 seconds over three weeks
Make it harder:
- Go lower than 90 degrees with your knees, or
- stand on a half-ball (BOSU) like in the video, or
- extend one leg for a single-legged wall sit, or
- hold a weight (or a can of soup – anything works) in both hands either above your head or at chest height.
- do a wall sit after another exercise, such as a chair step-up
Don’t do this exercise if:
- You have high blood pressure
- Or simply are unsure if you should
For more tips, or to have a conversation about how we can help you achieve your goals through a customized workout program with a Nielsen Fitness Personal Trainer, then contact us.
We’d love to help you reach your goals!