While some devices are available in stores, others can be customized with a prescription from your doctor, says Matt Likins, MPT, OCS, a physical therapist at 1st Choice Physical Therapy in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Here are some suggestions that could help you move around better and make daily activities easier.
- Shoe inserts When you walk, the force travels up the foot to the knee, but shoe inserts can help lessen this impact and reduce the strain on the joint, Likins says. They may also be particularly helpful if you stand on wood or concrete floors all day.
- Splints Custom splints help you properly position your joints when you’re active or sleeping, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association. They can also keep you from moving your knee in an awkward direction.
- Braces Even a very simple brace, such as a neoprene sleeve with a cutout for your knee, can help keep your bone in place and relieve pain, according to the Arthritis Foundation. If the knee needs to be immobilized (for example, if you’ve recently had surgery), your doctor may prescribe a hinged knee brace instead. Sometimes, the surface of your knee can wear unevenly, Likins says, and in that case, a customized unloader brace may help. Becky Thompson, PT, CSCS, a physical therapist at Gwinnett Medical Center in Atlanta, says, “an unloader brace shifts the weight away from the affected or damaged part of the knee.” Braces can also offer warmth and compression, which can help reduce swelling, a common symptom of knee osteoarthritis. Some people wear braces if their knees occasionally buckle from weakness or pain, says Katie Keaney, OTD, OTR/L, an occupational therapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
- Canes By leaning on a cane, you can transfer the weight off your knee, helping to reduce the pain, Likins says. A standard cane is made of aluminum or wood and has an umbrella-like handle; an offset cane has a curved handle that’s designed to distribute your weight over the shaft of the cane; and a quadripod cane has four legs at its base for extra support. The American Academy of Family Physicians says that there’s no one choice for everyone, so you should choose whichever device makes you most comfortable. Just remember that the cane should be used in the hand opposite the leg you are trying to relieve, emphasizes Litkins. “Many [people] get that wrong.”
- Crutches By relying on your arms to help bear weight and propel you forward when you walk, you’ll lessen the strain that’s placed on your knees. One drawback: “You need to be more agile to be able to use them faithfully,” Likins says.
- Walkers Although they can be cumbersome, walkers relieve much of the weight that puts pressure on the knee, says Likins. Plus, some even have a built-in seat, which provides a place to rest if you’ve been standing or walking for a long time.
- Reachers These long-handled tools have a grabbing mechanism on the end that can help you pick up things from the floor or other low surfaces, Keaney says. Not only do these devices limit the amount of bending over you have to do, which can further wear down your cartilage or cause your bones to rub against each other, but they can also prevent you from losing your balance, she adds.
- Grab bars Many people with osteoarthritis have trouble transferring their weight to their knees when they get up from a seated position, like the toilet, says Monique Chabot, OTD, OTR/L, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Jefferson’s East Falls campus in Philadelphia. Grab bars can give you something to hold onto when getting up and may be helpful in the shower, too.
The Bottom Line
If you think you may benefit from the use of assistive devices, work with a physical therapist and an occupational therapist to discuss which would be best for you. And “if you struggle to get around even with an assistive device or your pain worsens, then you need to have a talk with your doctor,” Likins says. “It is important that you reduce pain and stress on your joints so that you can stay active.”
