Arthritis comes in many variants, the most common being Osteoarthritis (OA), otherwise known as ‘wear and tear’ or ‘degenerative joint disease’. It is caused by a breakdown and loss of cartilage tissue within the knee. This cartilage tissue is what allows the knee to move smoothly (1).
OA can be painful and exercise can be hard when your knees just don’t feel like they can cope. Most people with OA avoid exercise as they believe it will aggravate and worsen their pain, but in fact it’s quite the opposite.
Rehabilitation is widely recommended for the management of OA. Studies have shown that muscle strengthening training and low impact aerobic exercise improve joint function and help to reduce the symptoms of OA (1).
Walking is the perfect example of low impact aerobic exercise, not only does it aid to reduce stiffness, but also lowers the risk of potential fractures, by toning surrounding muscle and slowing the loss of bone mass (2). Additionally, strengthening both the quadriceps and hamstrings has been shown to increase joint stability (3).
Studies have found that immobility leads to further stiffness, and more stiffness leads to more discomfort.
If you or your loved ones experience knee pain or arthritis please feel free to contact us for an appointment or more information in regards to helping you get back on your feet and active again. Click here to book an appointment with Taylor online or call our friendly team on 5255 5040 (OG) or 4202 0446 (L) to discuss how we can help you achieve your health goals.
References:
- Rehabilitation (exercise and strength training) and osteoarthritis: A critical narrative review [Nguyen. C, 2016]
- Arthritis.org
- Non-pharmacological approaches for the treatment of Osteoarthritis [Rannou F. Poiraudeau, 2010]
