Wearing knee pads is a simple and effective measure for the elderly to protect their knee joints. Wearing knee pads for the elderly not only has a very good warming effect, but also reduces the bending of the knees and helps keep the thighs and calves in a straight line, thus protecting the knee joint from injury.
The knee joint is where the upper and lower leg bones meet, with the meniscus in the middle and the patella in front. The patella is stretched by two fleshy bones, suspended before the junction of the leg bones, and is very easy to slide.
In normal life, the patella of the elderly can still move in a normal small range on the knee because it is not affected by external forces and does not exercise vigorously. However, the patella of the elderly ages rapidly. Once the force is improper, the knee pad is a "powerful weapon" to protect the patella of the elderly from slipping away from its original position. Studies have shown that just walking on level ground can put 3-5 times more stress on your knees than your body weight, and for overweight and obese older people, their knees will be overwhelmed.
Wearing knee pads is a simple and effective measure for the elderly to protect their knee joints, especially for elderly people with a body mass index higher than 24 (ie weight (kg) divided by height squared (m2)). For example, an old man who is 1.55 meters tall and weighs 65 kg has a body mass index of 27, which is obviously overweight. Such an old man should wear knee pads. If the knee joint has been injured or has a disease, the use of knee braces can reduce the bending of the knee, help the thigh and calf to maintain a straight line, so as to protect the knee joint from aggravating the disease.
In addition to protecting the knee joints, the knee pads also have a very good warming effect. For the elderly whose physique is getting worse, it can not only prevent cold, but also prevent the deterioration of old and cold legs. The knee joints are relatively fragile in winter. Knee pads can be used to keep the knees warm. Cotton and soft knee pads can ensure normal blood circulation in the knees. If it is warm, it is best to choose wool knee pads, which can resist rheumatism, arthritis, and fall injuries. Fine and soft. Good heating performance. The elderly wear it out in winter to protect the knees and prevent arthritis, and long-term wear can prevent and treat rheumatic knee diseases.
Related Article: Common knee injuries and the role of knee braces
How to choose knee pads for the elderly
There are different materials for knee pads for the elderly, and the elderly should choose according to their own conditions. The materials usually used for knee pads are mainly cotton, wool, leather and blended materials.
1. Cotton
Breathable and hygroscopic, but easy to wrinkle and deform after washing and wearing. The shrinkage rate is relatively large, about 4-10%. General thermal insulation, not resistant to mildew.
2. Hair
The common raw materials of knee pad wool fabrics are wool, rabbit hair, camel hair, etc., which have high warmth retention, but have deviations in air permeability.
3. Leather
Animal leather is more breathable and better in keeping warm, but it is afraid of water; the surface of artificial leather is not afraid of moisture, but it is warm and breathable.
4. Blended
With the development of blended fibers, it makes up for some of the shortcomings of traditional materials to a certain extent, but its moisture absorption, breathability, and thermal properties are not satisfactory. For example, the blended fabric of cotton and polyester is called cotton really good. It has the advantages of firmness, scratching, quick drying, and no ironing, but the wearing properties such as moisture absorption and breathability are not as good as those of pure cotton fabrics.
How to store and maintain knee pads
Finally, let's briefly talk about how to store and maintain the knee pads.
1. Put it in a dry and ventilated place, pay attention to moisture-proof.
2. Do not expose to the sun.
3. When using, please pay attention to cleaning.
4. It is forbidden to soak in water for a long time. The flannel surface can be soaked in water and gently rubbed, and the functional surface can be gently wiped with water.
5. Avoid ironing.