Medical Benefits of Kneepads

BENEFITS OF USING KNEEPADS

WHEN WORK BRINGS YOU TO YOUR KNEES

It's possible you can safely propose to your loved one on bended knee without wearing kneepads. But if your occupation or home improvement project brings you to your knees for prolonged periods, kneepads definitely need to be part of your Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kit—as essential to protecting your well-being as safety glasses, puncture-proof gloves, back braces, or other safety devices.

AFFECTED OCCUPATIONS

Significantly, if not surprisingly, workers in occupations that require prolonged periods on their knees have the highest incidence of traumatic knee injury. Take carpet laying, for example. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), carpet layers comprise .06% of the workforce, but account for 6.2% of all workman's compensation claims for traumatic knee injury.1 Carpet layers win the dubious honor of being the most prone to knee injury because, in addition to kneeling on hard surfaces, they also use a knee kicker to stretch carpet. The next most likely occupation to cause knee injury is tile setting, followed by floor laying, followed closely by a variety of other on-your-knees jobs.

KNEE INJURIES

When you kneel, the majority of your body weight concentrates on your knees, which are protected by a thin layer of cartilage and tissue called the meniscus and the patella, or kneecap (see illustration2).The menisci cushion the knee joints and allow pain free movement. Normal activity over a lifetime eventually wears them down. Without some kind of protection, prolonged kneeling, exacerbated by "walking" on your knees, hastens the damage and can tear the meniscus cartilage. The kneecap, only 2 inches around and 1 1/4 inch thick, and the surrounding tissue that keeps it floating in front of the joints can also be injured.

Some specific knee injuries3 that can result are:

Bursitis, which is the inflammation of small fluid sacs that cushion and lubricate the knee.
Tendinitis or tendinosis, caused by inflammation of or small tears to tendons.
Pica syndrome, when knee ligaments become thickened or unnaturally folded.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome, indicated by pain in the front of the knee related to the kneecap.
Tears of the meniscus, the rubbery cushions that protect the knee joints.

In some cases healing requires resting your knees—giving them a break from the pressure of kneeling. Some injuries, such as a torn meniscus, may require surgery.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

“NIOSH reports that use of knee pads can reduce injuries and increase production.”

Wearing kneepads is the best defense against occupational knee injury. NIOSH reports that use of knee pads can reduce injuries and increase production.1

Kneepads protect you by disbursing pressure on your knees and preventing puncture wounds. A secondary effect protects your back from strain. As kneeling becomes uncomfortable, a natural reaction is to avoid it by leaning over or stooping to do the job instead. Wheeled kneepads, such as those sold on www.kneeblades.com, have an added advantage: they reduce strain on your back and joints because they cut down on the number of times you have to stand up and kneel back down again and again.

In many cases, employers include kneepads as part of their workers' PPE safety equipment. If you're self-employed or undertaking a home-improvement project, make sure your own PPE kit includes kneepads.

“…one of my installers showed me a knee pad with wheels he bought over the Internet. … After much discussion on who was next to use them I placed an order for a case so that each crew had a pair to use on their jobs. Since then I have equipped each man with a pair of Gel Knee Pads. Why is this so important? Because the time saved by our crews using Kneeblades has more than paid for these tools. In our business, we look at the cost as an investment in the care of our crews who provide quality work.”

Anthony P. - Georgia

There's no doubt that kneeling on hard surfaces for lengthy stints without protection can injure your knees. Besides, it just plain hurts—as you're kneeling and later when the damage asserts itself. So do yourself a favor. Wear kneepads the next time your job brings you to your knees!

FOOTNOTES

1 Preventing Knee Injuries and Disorders in Carpet Layers, NIOSH ALERT: May 1990, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-104.

2 Illustration from MedlinePlus, a service of National Institutes of Health.

3 Knee Problems and Injuries, www.healthbanks.com.