As a point of info, kneeling is a "western" form of worship. When the Gospel is read at mass, what action do you take? You stand! Why do you stand? Out of reverence. The Eastern Churches do not have kneelers. They stand, out of reverence and respect, during the Consecration. Kneeling is so ingrained in us westerners that "standing out of respect" poses a challenge.
In the Eastern Churches, yes, standing is done, as you said, out of reverence, although, it someone is having problems with standing, a chair is provided for. But both are reverent.
Kneelers are mandated by liturgical law in the West.
The laity at Mass are not bound by any specific rubrics. There simply are none. They may stand, kneel, sit, as they please. Certainly, no one should feel guilty for not kneeling on account of painful knees! No bishop has the right to mandate (as many have done) that people NOT kneel at the Ecce Agnus Dei or after Communion.
"...In the Latin Church... kneeling is the sign of adoration for Christ who has just become present on the altar. This came about through the dogmatic development of Eucharistic theology in the West. To go back to the earlier practice in the West would be a sign of devolution of doctrine, and in fact, that is the way the devout faithful perceive efforts to change Latin practice, as a counter-sign of faith..."
"...No kneelers. The liturgical law says we are to kneel, it does not require kneelers. There can only be one of two reasons a Catholic church would be built without kneelers or would remove them. Either the pastor is faithful and wants his people to do some penance by kneeling on the floor, in which case they should oblige him, or, he intends to disobey the liturgical law of the Roman Rite, in which case they should obey the Church. Naturally, if it is too hard for them to kneel then they are excused by n.43...."
https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/kneeling_at_the_consecration.htm