Knee pain can disrupt nearly every part of daily life, especially for older adults who rely on steady movement for basic tasks. When discomfort becomes constant, even simple activities like climbing stairs or getting out of a chair can feel overwhelming. That’s why understanding how to prevent knee strain—and knowing when occupational therapy can help—is essential for maintaining comfort, mobility, and quality of life as your loved one ages.
Because the knees carry so much of the body’s weight and workload, they are especially vulnerable to wear, injury, and inflammation. When pain develops, it often affects balance, confidence, and independence. This is where occupational therapy plays a key role, offering guidance, strengthening strategies, and practical adaptations that help seniors move safely while protecting their joints from further stress.
Three Top Causes of Knee Pain
If a person has knee pain, there are usually several reasons why their knee might be hurting. For many older individuals, arthritis is a common cause of consistent knee pain. Arthritis often leads to the bones in the joint rubbing against each other, which can lead to inflammation and pain. Two other common conditions that lead to knee pain, or make it worse, are injuries and overuse.
Depending on the cause of pain, your loved one’s knee may hurt in different areas. When the front of the knee hurts, it’s often because of conditions like arthritis or bursitis. Pain on the side of the knee can be from ligament and tendon injuries, and pain on the outside of the knee can be from a ligament tear or arthritis.
Protecting Your Loved One’s Knees
Bad knees can make daily living difficult and could eventually lead to surgery and occupational therapy. While both of these options can be a great answer to knee pain that doesn’t get better, if possible, most people would rather avoid such drastic measures.
Here are five tips to help your loved one reduce his risk of knee injury or pain:
- Stay active. The more the knee is used properly (without undue stress), the better it’ll work. Joints were designed for movement and need to be used to stay in shape. The key is to not overdo the movement and to provide the proper support.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Too many pounds on the body can put undue stress on the knees. To keep the knees healthy, a person needs to maintain a healthy weight.
- Stop smoking. Smoking damages joint health and can increase the pain associated with arthritis.
- Provide support. Good shoes, knee braces, and even a cane can help your loved one provide his knees with the support they need so he can stay active.
- Consume a diet high in calcium and vitamin D to keep bones strong and joints moving.
When More Help Is Needed
If the knees have too much damage, your loved one may need to decide to have knee surgery to help regain some of the strength and movement in their knee joint. While the road to recovery may take a while, having a trained occupational therapy provider visit with your loved one at his home can help the recovery process go more quickly.
At home, occupational therapists can help your loved one learn to move again without pain and take steps forward that will keep his knees in good shape. And having occupational therapy provided right in your loved one’s home will allow the therapist to tailor his care to match his environment.
If you or someone you know needs Occupational Therapy in Mankato, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 525-7742 for more information.