Knee arthritis (osteoarthritis) one of the leading causes of disability in our country. Affected individuals report significant levels of pain and loss of function including both daily and recreational activities. Although initially associated with older adults this condition can also occur in a significant percentage of younger adults.
Thankfully most knee arthritis cases can be managed conservatively including Physical Therapy. Exercise therapy from a healthcare provider remains a 1st line treatment for this condition which can delay and prevent the knee for a total knee replacement. In our Boulder and Lafayette Physical Therapy offices we treat this condition with a combination of manual therapy (knee mobilizations) and exercise including aerobic and strength training.
One of the most damaging “old wives tale” on exercise for this condition is the belief that exercise may worsen the condition or damage the tissues of the knee. This is driven in part by the wear and tear model of injury which has been disproven in this condition. In addition, the high rates of both knee arthritis and sedentary behavior in our country cast doubt on wear and tear being a leading cause of knee arthritis.
Conversely, exercise therapy has been shown to improve pain and disability in this patient population. Further the research shows this form of treatment does not injure the cartilage but instead may improve the health of the cells (chondrocytes) in the knee (Bricca et al. Br J Sports Med. 2019. Bricca et al. Arthritis Care Res. 2019). Exercise improves the nutrition to the joint by drawing circulation into the joint and concurrently removing waste products from the joint.
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