Knee pain is a common complaint among seniors, but there’s plenty that you can do to fix it. Don’t let knee pain stop you from enjoying an active retirement. Let these tips for knee pain get you back on your feet instead!
Get Moving With These Tips for Knee Pain
Our joints are supposed to help us move through the world and stay active. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true for seniors who are dealing with chronic knee pain. If you struggle with stiffness, swelling, and discomfort in your knees, these tips for knee pain can help you get the relief you need.
Make Physical Activity a Daily Routine
It may seem confusing that the number one advice for people with knee pain is to move their knees more often. If you’re experiencing knee pain, doesn’t it make sense to rest and recover? However, movement is precisely what your knees were made to do, and a lack of activity can cause them more harm than good:
- Moving your knees regularly is the best way to make them stronger, which can alleviate pain and weakness.
- Physical activity is vital to maintaining a healthy weight and improving your overall joint health.
- Regular movement can improve your balance, which decreases your risk of falls and injuries that can make knee issues worse.
Movement is important, but it’s important to approach exercise in a way that doesn’t exacerbate any existing injuries. Before beginning any new exercise program, talk to your doctor. You can also find exercises geared towards improving knee movement and function to get started with before beginning anything more intense. Avoid high-impact exercises like jogging, as those can cause significant strain on your joints.
Protect Your Knees
Exercise is the best thing you can do for your knees, but it isn’t the only way to help your knees function comfortably. When it comes to improving your knee health, small changes can make a significant difference:
- Eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins like legumes. A nutritious diet can keep your body in good health and help you avoid joint inflammation. You should also ensure your diet has plenty of calcium.
- Practice improving your posture. Bad posture causes you to carry your weight in inefficient ways and can create unexpected strain on your knees and other major joints.
- Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. The wrong shoes can affect your posture and cause significant strain on your knees.
- If you experience consistent knee pain while moving, consider seeing a physical therapist. They can help you work on specific issues related to your knee problems and prescribe interventions that will make a difference, such as orthopedic insoles.
- Did you know that smoking has been connected to serious joint pain and inflammation in multiple studies? There’s never been a better day to quit than today.
Don’t Ignore Injuries
If you’re the kind of person who likes to “tough out” an injury or discomfort, you should know that that’s not a smart thing to do when it comes to your knees. Ignoring your knee pain will only make it worse and not give your body the chance it needs to heal. Pay attention to pain, and take steps to alleviate it appropriately. If you experience a knee injury, schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.
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We hope these tips for knee health will help you get back on your feet. If knee pain is making your daily life challenging, consider how moving into an assisted living community can help.
Are you looking for a premier assisted living and memory care community in the heart of downtown Greenville, South Carolina? Visit us at Waterstone on Augusta. We strive to enhance the quality of life of the seniors we serve through teamwork and unity and work to provide a relaxing and supportive atmosphere for our residents. To learn more about our amenities and to view our lovely community, please schedule a tour online or call us today at 864-605-7236.