Topic: Standing at work killing my knees

[Skinny]

So I stand a lot at work, as I assume many of you young kids with jobs do, and standing 12 hours a day is really hurting my knees. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or suggestions help me out such as better shoes, standing technique, or even some little exercises I can do to strengthen it while I'm at work.  There are rubber mats that I can stand on but there are only 3 of them and they don't always get put out or moved around when they are out.  So any suggestions would be helpful and my knees will thank you, oh yeah, I will too.

[Sat Santokh]

Never ever lock your knees.  I went to a disciplinarian boarding school for 6 years where I had to stand at attention for hours on end (4 is the most at one time) and you never want to lock your knees.  It cuts off blood flow and will f#ck up your patella.

[Muse_of_Fire]

Pay attention to your posture though. This is not "standing at attention," as locking your knees is bad news (as stated). However, keeping your core engaged, your lower back relaxed, your tailbone dropped, and your shoulders and chest broad, relaxed, and open, will take some pressure off of your knees.

If you can, keep moving. Walk around, even if it's just in a little area; do some kneebends, stretch your hip flexors, keep the joints moving.

[FreeStyleFox]

Try this out for size its a stretch we do in Kuk Sool Won.  Do this before work.  Stand with your feet together bend slightly at the knees put your hands on your knees and rotate clockwise for 15 seconds the counter clock wise for 15 seconds.  Just about every job I have had involves standing of one sort or another.

[Muse_of_Fire]

We used to do that stretch in Shaolin too. I'd forgotten about it. Good suggestion. A word of caution for that stretch: the knee can only bend in one direction (like a door hinge). So what you're actually doing when you "rotate" your bent knees is rolling along the outside edges of your feet. Hard to explain... but the circular motion comes from shifting your weight along the edges of your feet, NOT from actually rotating your knees in a circle. If you try to make your knees go in a circle you could end up doing damage over the long term.

Also, be sure you're drinking lots of water to keep the joints moist.

[Sat Santokh]

Oh and if you can just go up to a counter or something and just hold yourself there with your arms to help a little with spinal decompression.  There was some really long post about this kind've stuff on t-nation.  Oh just found it here

http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle.do?article=07-023-feature

Its a long read but worth it.

[Ken PKChiro]

knee problems are rarely knee in origin, especially without history of trauma.  Usually it comes from above or below, the hips or the feet/ankles.  instantly what you make me think is one of three things.  first, perhaps stagnant lymphatic flow.  Perhaps standing for long periods of time doesn't allow your joints to move through their complete Rang of motion.  this might result in decreased fluid movement.  Secondly, and thirdly (I'm a chiropractic intern) I would not be suprised if all it is is that you should get any foot or hip subluxations.  Most likely foot.  Besides seeing a qualified chiropractor who works with extremities, I would massage out the feet.  Another thing for lymph drainaige is you can massage along the TFL/IT band, then massage the vastus medialis, and most importantly the popliteus muscle.  look em up and rub em let me know