The straight leg raise is a simple home exercise for your knee. Lie on your back. Bend your other knee with your foot flat. Tighten the thigh of the straight leg and lift it to the height of the other knee. Lower slowly. Hold 2 seconds at the top. Do it 10 times.
Do this exercise only if your physician checked it on your home exercise handout. Unless your provider writes something different, do your checked exercises two times a day, every day.
How do you do the straight leg raise?
- Start: Lie on your back. Bend your other knee with your foot flat.
- Do: Tighten the thigh of the straight leg and lift it to the height of the other knee. Lower slowly.
- Repeat: Hold 2 seconds at the top. Do it 10 times.
What does the straight leg raise help?
It builds thigh strength without bending the injured knee, so it is safe early in healing.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Letting the knee bend as you lift.
- Lifting too high or too fast.
- Arching your low back.
When should you stop and call?
A gentle stretch, mild discomfort or feeling a little sore the next morning is normal. Stop and call (314) 887-5866 if you have:
- Sharp or stabbing pain
- Pain 2 points higher than before that lasts more than an hour
- New numbness, tingling or weakness
- Dizziness, or any change in vision
For chest pain, trouble breathing or fainting, call 911.
Bring your log to every visit
Check a box each time you do your exercises and write your pain number once a day. At each visit, your technician counts the days you did them and watches you do one exercise to make sure your form is right.
More knee exercises
This exercise is part of our physician-directed physiotherapy program, where a physician orders and supervises every treatment.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP. Board Certified in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, Interventional Pain Management, Addiction Medicine, and Obesity Medicine. Last reviewed October 18, 2026.