Walking May Ward Off Knee Pain
Walking for exercise can ease knee pain for people with knee osteoarthritis, according to a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology (June 2022). The study also suggested that walking might slow down the worsening of damage in the joint. The researchers analyzed data on 1,212 adults ages 50 and older with knee osteoarthritis who participated in the large, multiyear study called the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Over a four-year period, those who reported walking for exercise had 40% decreased odds of new or frequent knee pain compared with those who did not walk for exercise. Researchers also found that walkers had 20% less narrowing of the joint space, indicating less deterioration of cartilage (the substance over the ends of bones in joints that creates a smooth gliding surface, and that deteriorates in people with osteoarthritis). They concluded that “walking for exercise should be encouraged for people with osteoarthritis.”
