People visit physical therapists for a wide variety of reasons, but one of the most common ailments that brings them in is a knee injury. If you’ve never injured your knee, consider yourself lucky. Knee injuries can be incredibly painful, and they can also prevent you from enjoying many of your favorite activities. How can you protect your knees so you never have to visit a physical therapist in Cheyenne WY? Follow these tips:

Wear the right shoes.
Shoes may go on your feet, but they have an impact on other parts of your body—especially your knees. If you’re wearing shoes that don’t fit well or don’t have enough support, you may begin to experience knee pain. Make sure you choose shoes that have good arch support, and if you’re serious about preventing knee pain, stay far away from high heels. Wearing the right shoe is always important to protect your knees, but especially when you’re running or doing other physical activities. See 7 knee-saving running shoes for spring.

Watch your waistline.
The more you weigh, the more stress you are putting on your knees. Over time, extra weight can lead to painful knee injuries. You should always communicate openly and honestly with your doctor about your weight to ensure you fall within a healthy weight range. Being overweight can lead to a wide range of health issues, including obesity and diabetes, so it’s always best to stay in shape, especially if you’re concerned about knee injuries.

Exercise on a regular basis.
To protect your knees, you should focus on exercises that strengthen the quadriceps, which are the muscles located above your knees on the front of your thighs. The stronger these muscles are, the more protection they can provide to your knees. What kind of exercises should you do? Think squats, leg lifts, and calf raises to start. You can even hop on a stationary bike if you want to do cardio while also protecting your knees. If you’re worried about putting too much stress on your joints, try exercising in a swimming pool instead of a gym.

Wear protective gear.
Are you an athlete? Whether you’re playing basketball, baseball, football, or hockey, you should always wear kneepads to protect your knees. It may take a little while to get used to wearing kneepads if you’ve never had them on before, but don’t worry, before you know it, you won’t even notice you’re wearing them. If you don’t want to wear kneepads, try a knee brace instead. These fabric sleeves support your knees and prevent injuries during many physical activities.

At North Platte Physical Therapy, we’re dedicated to helping clients protect their knees and live a pain-free life. But accidents happen, so if you do injure yourself, contact North Platte Physical Therapy to learn more about how we can help you recover. Our staff is praised throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas for our commitment to our clients. We can fulfill comprehensive physical therapy services, and would be happy to customize a treatment plan for your personal needs.