Occupational therapy

• Bracing: Occupational therapists may use a brace to support and provide stability or to reduce the strain on the joint.
• Joint protection: Occupational therapists can advise you how to modify or adapt your activities to reduce the pain your experience in your joint.
• Equipment: Some occupational therapists can provide you with equipment, or refer you to Cornwall Council for equipment to help you to manage your day to day activities, that may be more difficult as a result of your symptoms. For example, grab rails or mobility aids.

• Maintain or improve function and independence.
• Increase or maintain participation in activities.
• Preserve the joint and delay or prevent surgical intervention.
• Promote self-management of symptoms through education.

Your occupational therapist will discuss your day to day activities with you and identify any equipment or adaptations that might be helpful. You may be referred to another service such as social services for further assistance with this if required.

Your occupational therapist will also discuss any self-management strategies such as pacing your activities or using ice to reduce the pain in your knee.

Wearing a brace for activity has the potential to reduce the need for surgical intervention. Enabling equipment can help to reduce the strain on your joints when getting in and out of the bath for example or rising from low surfaces such as the toilet. Often, addressing these areas results in your symptoms reducing as the knee is under less strain.