{"id":7231,"date":"2022-01-13T12:56:28","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T17:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/agrability\/?p=7231"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:18:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T17:18:49","slug":"loggers-and-knee-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/agrability\/2022\/01\/13\/loggers-and-knee-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"Loggers and Knee Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Brie Weisman, OTR\/L, Maine AgrAbility.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Reprinted with permission from Logger’s Voice. Winter 2022.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Logger
Licensed with CC BY 2.0. <\/span>“Logger working near Z Canyon, 1965” by Seattle Municipal Archives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Knee pain is the second most common musculoskeletal complaint in the logging industry, after back pain. The knee is regularly put under stress. Just walking on level ground produces force on the knee of 1.5 times your own body weight. Over time, wear and tear on knees is inevitable in a physically active career.\u00a0 Working on uneven, steep terrain that is often slick with snow, ice, or mud; having to repeatedly climb in and out of equipment with a high step up or down; and carrying heavy or awkward loads, all combine to put loggers at exceptionally high risk for knee injuries and pain.<\/p>\n

Regardless of whether the pain is a result of an acute injury like a tear in the meniscus that requires surgery, or from a chronic issue like arthritis, logging with knee pain makes for a long day.\u00a0 Below are some simple steps loggers can take to improve their knee health.<\/p>\n

Prevention\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n