Last Updated on January 26, 2024
If you are a senior or a caregiver of a senior, you may have heard that knee pain in old age can be helped by being less sedentary and gaining more movement. In general, this is true for aging knees—you do want to move your joints and exercise them regularly to help reduce strain. However, knee joint problems in old age can be exacerbated by putting too much weight and strain on the joints. When you climb stairs, instead of reducing joint strain, you are actually putting more pressure on the joints. In turn, this can be a cause of knee problems in the elderly rather than a solution.
Knee pain in old age can be relieved by taking the strain off the joints, and using a stairlift to mount and use the stairs in your home can help common knee problems in the elderly considerably. Read on to learn more about knee pain causes in old age, how to prevent knee pain in old age, and how a stairlift can help.
Reasons for Knee Pain in Old Age
There are many related health conditions that can lead to knee pain in older adults. Bones and joints do wear down and break with age, so some of the most common causes include typical age-related conditions, such as osteoarthritis, arthritis, and osteoporosis. However, knee pain in the elderly can also be from gout or an infection, which can cause unexpected and sudden knee pain in the elderly. Knee pain in senior citizens can also be caused by falls, which is another reason to consider a stairlift. Stairlifts can help everyone safely and simply get up and down the stairs.
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee pain over 70 years old and worsens over time. Instead of exercising by climbing stairs, there are also knee exercises for seniors that can help.
What Can You Do for Knee Pain in the Elderly?
The “treatment” you’ll most commonly hear prescribed for knee pain in the elderly is walking—but remember, your physician means light walking and light movement. They may give you a list of knee exercises to follow, or give you a referral to a physical therapist. Adding more calcium to the diet can also strengthen bones in old age. Sudden pain can be alleviated by:
- Rest
- Ice
- Heat
- Compression
If climbing stairs is putting too much strain on the joints and contributing to knee pain in the elderly, it may be time to consider a stairlift.
How Can a Stairlift Help?
Walking up and down stairs puts unneeded stress and strain on the hips, ankles, knees, and other joints. Using a stairlift each time you use the stairs reduces this strain and can help with knee pain in old age. Stairlifts can particularly help with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and arthritis, but they can also be utilized when recovering from a fall or infection. Having a stairlift in your home can also prevent falls, which can further worsen knee pain. There are many types of stairlifts—from curved to straight and indoor to outdoor.
To learn more about how stairlifts can help knee pain in the elderly, or to hear more about life-changing mobility products, such as upright walkers or power recliners, contact Williams Lift Co. today. We want both patients and their caregivers to live their best lives possible.