Your knees are put under a great deal of pressure each day. For people in some jobs, however, the risk of suffering from a knee injury is greater than what most people experience.
Many of the jobs that are a danger to the knees are those that involve a lot of stooping, lifting and kneeling. Some of these require the workers to pick up heavy loads, which often comes with an instruction to lift with their knees and not their backs. Others require people to spend a lot of time down on the floor — which gets harder the more you do it.
What occupations come with more risk to the knees?
Some of the occupations that are commonly associated with knee injuries include:
- House or office cleaners
- Construction workers, roofers, bricklayers
- Flooring professionals
- Landscapers
- Electricians and plumbers
- Mechanics
- Athletes and dancers
Individuals in all of these occupations should ensure that they know the proper body mechanics for doing their job duties. They should also know how to use safety gear — like knee pads or braces — that might help to keep them safe.
What happens if a knee injury happens at work?
Anyone who has knee pain while working or knee pain that doesn’t abate with rest should seek medical care. It’s possible that the condition of the knee has significantly worsened to the point that you’ll be unable to work while it heals. If the injury occurred while you were at work, seeking workers’ compensation can help you to get the medical care you need, as well as other benefits.