Knee pain and travelling: Tips to make your journey pain-free

Orthopedics & Joint Replacement | by Dr. Ashok Kumar Das | Published on 23/12/2021

Knee pain is a problem that can affect anyone and especially elderlies. There are a variety of different factors that can be responsible for it, the most common of which is arthritis, a degenerative joint disease that affects millions worldwide. Although the condition is not life-threatening, the best orthopaedic surgeon in Kolkata suggests that it can drastically impact the quality of a person's life by limiting normal day-to-day activities. The pain may be mild or unbearable and usually increases with an increase in activity level or sitting in the same position for a long period of time. It is due to this very reason that people with knee pain fear travelling long distances because they know that at the end of the journey, they will be accompanied by a new companion - knee pain.

Luckily there are a few tips that can help you to effectively manage knee pain while you are travelling. We have listed some of them with the help of a leading orthopaedic expert.

Take a stroll - If you are travelling in a plane or train, you can easily get out of your seat and move about to release stiffness and pain. It is very natural to have cramps while travelling long distances. Taking a stroll every now and then can help you manage the same. This is especially important for people with arthritis or any other joint problem.

Stretch a little - Stretching is always good for your bones and joints and it does not really matter where you are. You can do it while sitting or standing, or even lying down. You can simply move your seat back and stretch your legs. Repeat the same after every 15 to 20 minutes. Stretching will not only help your knees but your hips and back as well.

Choose your seat wisely - When you are travelling on a train or bus it can be quite difficult to get out of your seat if you're sitting near the window. It is always a better option to choose the aisle seat as you can easily get up whenever you want, without disturbing your co-passengers.

Take a shorter flight - Instead of taking a non-stop flight to your destination, while travelling abroad, try to book connecting flights. This way, you will get enough time in between the flights to move around and will not have to sit at one place for long hours at a stretch. Experts specializing in knee replacement surgery in Kolkata recommend the same to patients who plan on travelling long distances post-surgery.

If possible take a car trip - If the distance is not much and you are travelling within the country, especially to a neighbouring state, it is advisable to take it car, are you can easily adjust the seat as per your convenience and stop whenever you feel like moving around a little. Travelling by car will also help to make the journey even more exciting.

Get a cruise control - If you are the one driving, you will have to bend your knee every now and then, while using the accelerator. Using cruise control will help to stretch your leg a little and avoid the discomfort associated with frequent bending of the knee.

Brace up - If you are planning to travel long distances, you can always wear a brace to support weak and damaged joints. This will help to stabilize the knee cap and prevent unnecessary discomfort to joints.

The next time you are planning a trip, keep these tips in mind to make sure that, your knee pain doesn't accompany you on the journey.