Exercise increases overall health quality in people with knee osteoarthritis

Taking exercise can deliver a number of health benefits for people with knee osteoarthritis, says a new US study published in Arthritis Care & Research.
Experts looked at if following physical activity guidelines would lead to better results for people with osteoarthritis in terms of their overall health and quality of life.
A total of 1,908 adults with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis were involved in the study. Exercise was measured using seven days of monitoring via motion sensors. Socioeconomic and health factors were taken into account. The results suggested that just 13% of the participants met physical activity guidelines. And 45% were “completely inactive”.
The more active people were, the higher they scored in terms of overall health and quality of life.
“We found a significant positive relationship between physical activity level and health-related utility,” the researchers say. “Interventions that encourage adults, including persons with knee osteoarthritis, to increase physical activity even if recommended levels are not attained may improve their quality of life.”
A spokesperson from Arthritis Research UK comments:
“Exercise to strengthen the quadriceps muscle in the thigh that supports the knee joint is really important for people with osteoarthritis of the knee in terms of reducing their pain. Swimming and cycling and other kinds of non-weight-bearing exercise are particularly effective.”