Is physical activity bad for knee joint health?

I am working with a very fit 50 year- old woman who is suffering from pain in her left knee. She is an active hiker and loves to travel. She often wonders, as do many of my older clients (as they perform squats): “is physical activity good or bad for the knees?” As a professional trainer, I believe that physical activity is a necessary component of a healthy life; but is this increase in physical activity leading to osteoarthritis?

What Does the Research say:
. there is strong evidence that physical activity leads to tibiofemoral
osteophytes (bony outgrowth covered by fibrocartilage)
. there is also strong evidence that there was no decrease in knee cartilage based on
radiological joint space narrowing

So What?
This research challenges the belief that if we exercise regularly, we are increasing our risk of getting osteoarthritis. We need to get moving because the benefits of doing so are much greater than just improved knee joint health.

To be continued

Let's connect at info@gaiaadventures.com

Catherine D'Aoust at GAIA Adventures
www.gaiaadventures.com


Boot camp class open to men and women, Thursday nights, ongoing 6:00pm at Charleson Park, 999 Charleson Street & Laurel.