More than 30 million Americans have OA and although the spine, hips and knees can be involved, the knee is the most commonly affected joint. It occurs most often in those 50 years and older and usually presents in a slow, progressive manner. Because movement can be painful when you have OA, most people avoid it. However, not only can being active keep knee OA from worsening, it may reduce the risk of getting the disease in the first place.
Many people believe that running causes knee pain, but studies have shown that running can actually reduce your risk for OA. A 2017 study in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy reviewed 17 studies that involved almost 115,000 people and looked for a connection between running and osteoarthritis in the hip, knee, or both. Researchers found that only 3.5% of recreational runners (people who run for exercise and/or compete in 5Ks,10Ks, and half marathon races) got knee or hip OA, compared with 10% of people who were not active. Furthermore, we now know that movement, in most cases, is the best treatment for OA because movement not only helps keep bones and cartilage healthy, it keeps muscles strong which can help protect the joint from abnormal or excessive stress. A 2015 study found that people who had mild knee OA that walked an average of 3.5 miles per day did not experience any additional cartilage loss over a two-year period.
Knee pain, and subsequent OA, may also stem from a biomechanical malalignment in the lower extremity that can wear down the joint at a faster rate. This malalignment often occurs due to weakness in hip and thigh muscles and loss of normal flexibility, resulting in excessive and abnormal stress at the knee joint. A physical therapist (PT) is trained to analyze movement and walking patterns to determine if an individual’s knee pain is caused from an alignment issue. They can then implement a stretching and strengthening program designed to improve a patient’s walking or movement patterns; thereby, reducing their risk of injury or further degenerative changes in the knee. Dr. Tenforde, a Harvard Sports Medicine Physician, encourages people with OA to “not be afraid to participate in higher-impact weight-bearing activities that require constant movement, like walking, running, and recreational sports but to build up these activities or to do them on softer surfaces.”
The physical therapists at Berkana are experts in evaluating knee pain and in prescribing progressive strengthening and flexibility exercises that will reduce pain and promote improved movement and function. For more information about our treatments or to get a free assessment, call 970-797-2431.