Regular exercise improves both mental and physical health. Exercise is one area of health where there’s near-universal agreement among experts: Do it.
But some debate exists when it comes to osteoarthritis — the most common type of arthritis — which occurs when joints such as the knees gradually wear down with use and age. Should people who have or are at risk of osteoarthritis routinely exercise? If so, how much? And what exercises are safe?
A large new study addressed some of these questions, finding that leg strength plays a major role in reducing the risk of osteoarthritis and its associated symptoms, including knee pain. Researchers in the Netherlands looked at a group of about 5,000 older adults who did regular exercise, including a combination of weight-bearing exercise — walking or running — and non-weight-bearing exercise such as swimming or biking.
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