Aerobic exercise found to be most effective for knee osteoarthritis
For patients with knee osteoarthritis, aerobic activities such as walking, cycling, or swimming are likely to be the best exercise for improving pain, function, gait performance, and quality of life, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
While other exercises may offer complementary benefits to patients, they should not replace aerobic exercise as the main strategy, say the researchers.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears away, causing pain, swelling, and impaired movement. While any joint can be affected, it's most common in the knees, with nearly 30% of people over the age of 45 showing signs of knee osteoarthritis on x-rays, half of whom also have severe knee symptoms.
