There is no good evidence supporting a harmful effect of exercise on joints in the setting of normal joints and regular exercise, according to a review of studies published in the Journal of Anatomy.

Exercise is an extremely popular leisure-time activity in many countries throughout the Western world and has for many become part of the modern lifestyle. It is widely promoted in as being beneficial for weight control, disease management in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and for improving psychological well-being amongst an array of other benefits.

In contrast, however, the lay press and community perception is also that exercise is potentially deleterious to one's joints, in particular those of the lower extremities.

Researchers from Boston, USA, and Ainring, Germany, reviewed existing studies on the relationship between regular exercise and osteoarthritis and concluded that in the absence of existing joint injury there is no increased risk of osteoarthritis from exercise.

"We found that in elite athletes where there was more likelihood of obtaining sports injuries, there was an increased risk of osteoarthritis in the damaged joints, but in most people vigorous, low-impact exercise is beneficial for both it's physical and mental benefits," said lead researcher David Hunter. "The largest modifiable risk factor for knee osteoarthritis is body weight, such that each additional kilogram of body mass increases the compressive load over the knee by roughly 4kg".

One might surmise therefore that exercise to reduce body-weight, where necessary, could in fact reduce the risk of osteoarthritis, rather than increase it.

The knee is the joint most commonly affected by the symptoms of osteoarthritis. More than 10 million Americans suffer from knee osteoarthritis, the most common cause of disability in the United States and women are more commonly affected than men.

It has also been suggested in other research that resistance training can constitute potential therapy to improve functional ability and the quality of life in osteoporosis patients.

Related Articles


Fish Oil Can Have Beneficial Effects in Rheumatoid Arthritis There is consistent evidence from double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that dietary n-3 fats, supplied as fish oil, can have beneficial effects in

Adherence to Exercise Therapy Reduces Pain for Osteoarthritis Patients Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip who adhere to the recommended home physical therapy exercises and physically active lifestyle experience more

Electromagnetic Pulses Decrease Osteoarthritis Pain and Inflammation According to researchers, electromagnetic pulses significantly decrease pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. In the double-blind,

Obesity Associated With Increased Risk of Rapid Cartilage Loss According to a study, obesity, among other factors, is strongly associated with an increased risk of rapid cartilage loss. "We have isolated demographic and MRI-based risk factors for

2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria New criteria for rheumatoid arthritis published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, could prevent thousands of people from developing disabling late stage disease,

References:
1. David Hunter, et al. Non-elite level activity does not increase risk of osteoarthritis. Wiley-Blackwell.
2. Image by bryanpearson.

Add comment

User Name (Required)

E-mail (Required - Never shown publicly)

Website (Optional)

Notify me of follow-up comments

If you cannot read the code click to refresh for a new code.

Add comment

Cancel