Exercise Has No Effect On Risk Of Knee Osteoarthritis
Regular exercise is recommended for middle-aged and older people, but the effect of exercise on the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in older people is unclear, especially if they are overweight. Some studies have suggested that exercise has a protective effect, but few studies have been conducted where patients are asked about physical activity and followed to find out what develops. Meanwhile, obesity is a major risk factor for knee OA, and the question has been raised as to whether weight-bearing activity may be harmful to people who are overweight. A new study published in the February 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritiscare) examined the effects of physical activity over a long period in older adults, many of whom were overweight, and found that exercise neither protects against nor increases the risk of knee OA.