Design for Agile Aging
Disability Exercise

Exercise: Arthritic knee or knee replacement

Staff: Anne

Normal symptoms: knee is stiff and sore, can’t walk on it without pain

ADLs probably unable to perform: walking without pain, standing up and sitting down smoothly

Emulation: Use a physical therapy knee brace to wrap one knee.  Make sure the brace is tight enough that you have difficulty straightening or flexing the knee, but not tight enough to cut off circulation.    Keep the brace in place for 8 consecutive hours.  You may use a cane, a crutch, or a walker to help you move.

Trial activities:

  1. If you put on the brace while sitting, stand up.  If you put on the brace while standing, sit down.
  2. Walk at your normal pace.
  3. Walk fast.
  4. Run
  5. Go up stairs, then down stairs.
  6. Stand for five minutes
  7. Drive somewhere, or ride a bicycle somewhere.
Report:
What was the first difference you noted?
After 8 hours, how did your leg feel?  Did you feel any cramping in your foot, ankle, leg, knee, or hip? 
How did you adjust to your disability? How did you compensate for the immobilized knee? What did you find you couldn’t compensate for? 
If this were a permanent condition, what kinds of devices would you want to help you function?