Risk Of Knee Osteoarthritis Not Increased By Exercise

Arthritis News

Risk Of Knee Osteoarthritis Not Increased By Exercise

Regular exercise is recommended for middle-aged and older people, but the effect of exercise on the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in older people is unclear, especially if they are overweight. Some studies have suggested that exercise has a protective effect, but few studies have been conducted where patients are asked about physical activity and followed to find out what develops.

Meanwhile, obesity is a major risk factor for knee OA, and the question has been raised as to whether weight-bearing activity may be harmful to people who are overweight. A new study published in the February 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research examined the effects of physical activity over a long period in older adults, many of whom were overweight, and found that exercise neither protects against nor increases the risk of knee OA.

Analysis of the results showed no relationship between recreational walking, jogging or other self-reported activity and the development of knee OA. Even though the overweight patients had an increased risk of developing OA, physical activity did not contribute to this risk. Also, despite previous studies that suggested that exercise might prevent joint space loss, the study did not find this to be the case. "This suggests that in middle-aged and older adults who do not have OA, exercise does not protect against disease development”.

In addition to improving the usefulness of knee OA research, ultimate aim must be to produce evidence that assists clinical decision-making and individualized recommendations regarding safety and effectiveness of interventions,including physical activities.


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