Knee damage from concrete finishing is my biggest regret
I've been finishing concrete for over ten years, and my knees are killing me. Each morning, I wake up stiff and sore. Last week, I could barely stand after a big pour. The doctor says it's early arthritis from all the kneeling. I tried knee pads, but they slide when I move quick. It's getting so bad I hate heading to the project. What do other finishers do to protect their knees?
Switch to knee pads with full wraparound straps, not just the sleeve kind. Those things stay put when you move fast, I learned the hard way lol. Also, get the ones with thick gel padding, it takes the edge off the concrete. Some guys I know use kneeling mats for big pours, saves your knees between moves. You gotta protect your joints now, or you'll pay for it later, trust me. It's worth spending a bit more on good gear if it lets you keep working.
Listen to reese_ward50 about the straps, because sliding knee pads are just a sad trip to the floor waiting to happen. That gel padding he mentioned is the real difference between being sore and being wrecked after a long day. You really don't want to learn that lesson the hard way.
Interlocking foam tiles saved my knees on last month's garage floor job, they create a full kneeling surface so you're never on bare concrete. Pair them with those strap-on pads for moving spots quickly.