Have you experienced knee pain and decided to seek medical attention for it? Or have you ever asked your medical provider about an “achy” knee and what to do for it? Or maybe you are currently experiencing knee pain and are trying to treat it yourself, by just resting it?
If any or all situations apply to you, I am writing this post for you!! Our knees are essential for absorbing impact from our feet hitting the ground and also allow you to attain various positions like sitting and standing.
As we age, the cushion between the bones that make up the knee can wear down making our knee less of a shock absorber when walk as well as creating more pressure on the bones when we bend the knee for sitting, or during a standing activity where we are straightening the knee.
Knee troubles can make everyday activities a big struggle to complete without experiencing pain in the knees. When we are limited in the activities we enjoy doing, can hinder our independence.
Also, the amount of bodyweight we are carrying can impact the amount of force the knee joint has to withstand while we are completing our everyday activities.
We meet people all the time who mention they were told to “just rest” or “take these pain pills” or the combination of the two. Unfortunately, “resting” or “taking pain pills,” alone may not take the pain away. In fact, in some cases taking this course of action could make the knee pain worse.
By solely resting, our body can lead to a loss of strength in the leg muscles that are important for climbing stairs, getting up from a chair or toilet, walking, and various other physical activities. This weakness in the leg muscles can also place more stress on the bones in your need creating more discomfort.
When we rely upon pain pills, they not only will mask the knee pain, but the pain pills may have a detrimental impact on our overall health. As it relates to older adults, some pain pills have been found to increase the risk of falling. So, minimizing the use or need for pain pills is a prime objective in keeping individuals safe and functioning.
Therefore, incorporating things to replace pain pills for managing the discomfort like the use of an ice/heat pack, stretching, strength-building exercises, low-impact activities (brisk walking, yoga, bicycling/etc.), and proper leg positioning, when seated/lying down, can all be useful in managing this condition.
Are you getting back into exercising or having difficulty with leg pain or knee pain when performing standing exercises?
Working on proper techniques and ways to avoid stress during exercise is important to minimize the risk of injury. With either standing or seated exercises making modifications may be necessary to improve your exercise tolerance and to avoid the risk of injury.
If you have not already, check out our blog post, "3 Key Strategies For Older Adults On How To Keep Your Legs Strong, Toned..." which includes tips and strategies focused on helping keep your legs strong and tone as you age. These are topics that we have come across most often while helping older adults in the Greater Milwaukee area, keep active so they can continue to perform the necessary household tasks to help maintain their independence.
If you are looking to get to the root of your knee or hip pain issues or wondering what are the best exercises for knee pain or hip pain and live in Waukesha, Brookfield, New Berlin, Pewaukee, Delafield, Hartland, Oconomowoc, Greenfield, New Berlin, Muskego, Wales, Greendale, West Allis, Milwaukee, Bayside, Franklin, Oak Creek, Whitefish Bay, Racine, Kenosha or in surrounding Greater Milwaukee communities, complete this quick form to set up your Free 20-minute call ($75 value) with one of our leading in-home physical therapy knee and hip pain specialists to discuss your current situation.
Talk more soon!!
Preston, PT
P.S. If you’re experiencing stiffness in your knee or hip which restricts your ability to move without pain, click here to download our free knee and hip pain tips report which includes actionable tips we give to our patients at Prestige Therapy and Wellness, LLC. Click here to get your free guide.
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