Wear knee pads for kneeling work
Cushion your knees whenever a job puts you on the floor, so the small fluid sacs in front of the kneecap don't get irritated.
- How often
- As needed
- Recommended for
- 7 factors
How to do it
- Put on knee pads, or use a kneeling mat, before any task that keeps you on your knees for more than a few minutes.
- Choose pads with a cushioned shell that fit snugly without cutting off circulation behind the knee.
- Change position often, alternating kneeling with squatting, sitting on a low stool or standing.
- Stand up and straighten your legs every so often to let your knees recover.
Why it helps
Kneeling presses your body weight onto the bursa, a small cushion of fluid at the front of the knee. Repeated pressure can inflame it, which is why knee bursitis is common in trades that spend hours on the floor. Padding spreads the load and breaks help the tissue recover.
Be careful
See a doctor if a knee becomes swollen, warm or red, or if you have a fever, which can signal infection.
Recommended for
Carpenter
Hammering, sawing, lifting and kneeling, with sharp tools all day.
occupationConstruction worker
Heavy loads, heights, noise, dust and weather, every day.
hobbyDIY home improvement
Ladders, power tools, heavy lifting and dust from old materials.
occupationElectrician
Crawl spaces, ladders, overhead work and live circuits.
hobbyGardening
Kneeling, digging, lifting and pulling weeds for hours in the sun.
occupationPlumber
Under sinks, in trenches, on your knees, twisting into tight spaces.
occupationWelder
Fumes, sparks, UV light and awkward positions.