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Many people spend a lot of their life on the road. Whether you’re a truck driver driving through multiple states, you work at a job at least an hour away, or you deliver goods to your nearby area, you may constantly find yourself in the driver’s seat.
Many drivers put a lot of wear and tear on their knees while driving. The bend of the leg, the stop and go functions, and the limited mobility of driving positions are just a few of the factors that contribute to extended knee pain. Learn about some of the more common knee issues you may experience while driving and some of the treatment options so that you are more comfortable on the road.
Osteoarthritis
Driving in the same position repeatedly can put a lot of wear and pain on your kneecaps. Over time, the cartilage may wear down and result in a type of arthritis known as osteoarthritis. For long-distance drivers, osteoarthritis may occur over time due to the natural stop and go of traffic stops.
For example, when you do a lot of city driving, you are constantly putting wear and tear on your knee as you switch back and forth between the brake and the gas.
Once osteoarthritis has begun to form, you will want to seek treatment as soon as possible. While physical therapy may help reduce the overall pain, you may need to seek out some type of knee surgery or treatment option to increase flexibility and movements in the legs.
To continue driving, you may need to wear various support products like a knee brace. The use of a knee brace will help you reduce the direct pressure on your knee.
Knee Joint Strain
During driving trips, you are likely spending hours at a time in the same position. When you do not have the ability to stretch out or exercise, you put a lot of strain on your knee joints and may experience a lot of pain when you get up and try to walk around.
Knee joint strain may also increase in drivers who are tall or overweight. Taller drivers may have their knees bent at more dramatic angles. Overweight drivers may experience increased pressure on the knees due to the excessive weight. Treatment options may include extensive joint repair, rehab, and weight loss programs.
Through tips, training, and treatments, extended knee joint pain may fade away over time.
Chondromalacia Patellae
Directly underneath the kneecap is a lot of cartilage that helps protect the knee and prevent bones from grinding together. When knees bend repeatedly in a vehicle, the cartilage may soften and cause a condition known as chondromalacia patellae.
With this problem, your knees may crack or grind when you stand, walk, or bend down to sit in a vehicle. In some cases, chondromalacia patellae may lead to a misaligned kneecap or severe pain while walking or stretching your knee out. The early forms of chondromalacia patellae may be treated through physical therapy, but the condition could reach a point where arthroscopic surgery is needed.
A surgery on your knee will help correct these problems and build a foundation where your knees feel better for the long haul. Through treatments, you will learn the best stretches and exercises to help reduce strain and keep your knees healthy for years.
Of course, preventive care is often the best treatment option, so any knee issues or pains should not be ignored, especially if you drive for extended amounts of time on a daily basis.
For all of your knee issues and problems, contact our experts at the Noyes Knee Institute. We can help get you evaluated and set up a proper treatment plan.