Many people, when advised to perform regular exercise, are worried that exercise contributes to arthritis. Some people are even advised to ‘save their knees’ by avoiding any everyday activity.
What lies behind this belief can be summarized in two points.
- Osteoarthritis was once believed to be a mechanical problem in the joint. People used to think that every step they took rubbed away their cartilage, and the grinding sound was a strong confirmation of this belief.
- Another myth was to see pain as a sign of cartilage damage. This belief allows people to assume that pain means cartilage is being damaged. But this is not the case. Pain science has taught us that pain does not always mean damage; instead, it is a sign of a hypersensitive nervous system.
In addition to all this, the very word ‘osteoarthritis’ was once considered as a life sentence for an active lifestyle.
Thanks to recent studies, what we currently know is totally different. The good news is that you do not have to give up the activities you like.
Several studies show that exercise can be safe for joints, both in older, overweight people, and in athletes. As a result, you’re not rubbing away your cartilage with every step you take, and that grinding sound can be ignored.
So, stay active and exercise. If you have hip or knee osteoarthritis, exercise and physical activity may help improve your joint health and boost your overall health and quality of life.
MSK-0041 Rev A