Pain in your knees when you first wake up. Pain when you move too much or too little. Difficulty walking your dog or playing with your grandkids. All these issues can make living with knee arthritis difficult. 

Living with this issue can be isolating, but you should keep in mind that you’re not alone. In fact, you’re a part of a community of more than 54 million arthritis sufferers. People whose knee arthritis is making life harder should talk to a physical therapist. These specialists can help you by offering tips intended to make living with knee arthritis easier. 

Five tips that can make living with arthritis in the knees easier

Living with knee arthritis is slightly different for every person. A physical therapist can help you design a treatment plan that’s personalized to your needs. They can also assist you in finding ways to make your daily life easier on you and your joints. 

There are many tips that your therapist might recommend to you, but there are five tips in particular that therapists often suggest for knee arthritis patients. These tips include: 

1. Moving more frequently — Arthritis patients should try to avoid holding one position for too long. This means that getting up and moving more frequently can be helpful. For instance, try to get up and stretch every 15 minutes or so while watching TV. The movement can help increase joint lubrication, which can help keep pain at bay. 

2. Simplify your life — You can take steps to reduce the number of tasks that put stress on your joints. For example, you can place cleaning supplies in the kitchen and bathrooms. This will reduce the amount of walking you must do while cleaning. 

3. Play to your strengths — Try to use your strongest joints rather than weaker or more painful ones. Knee arthritis patients should work on leading with their stronger leg when going up stairs. Additionally, try to lead with your weaker leg when going down stairs. Doing so can help reduce the stress on your arthritic knee. 

4. Use adaptive aids — There are a number of devices that can help make life easier for your arthritic knee(s). A grabber can reduce the need to bend down to grab items out of a cabinet or pantry. A bathing stool allows you to sit down while showering. This can help prevent slips and falls and reduce stress on the knees. 

5. Ask others for help — Maintaining as much independence as possible is typically important to arthritis sufferers. However, you don’t want to take it too far. Strike a good balance by helping friends and family members learn more about your condition. Doing so can help them be more open to helping you with certain tasks when you ask. 

Rehab Access can help you learn more about living with knee arthritis

Searching for a physical therapy team who will work with you to make living with knee arthritis easier? Look no further than our team at Rehab Access. We offer complimentary screenings that can help reveal how knee arthritis is affecting you. Our team also excels at building arthritis therapy plans that are personalized to your needs. 

Not keen to come into our clinics because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Don’t worry. We offer services that can help you get the therapy you need from your home. Virtual care sessions allow you to work with a therapist over a secure live online video connection. Our team also offers at-home therapy appointments where a therapist comes to you. 

Take the next step to start getting our help with your knee arthritis. Contact our team today for more information about how we can help or to schedule an initial appointment.