A recent study reveals that walking, cycling, and swimming are highly beneficial exercises for managing arthritis. The research analyzed 217 clinical trials to determine the most effective exercises for addressing this painful condition, which affects around ten million people in the UK, with 5.4 million suffering from knee osteoarthritis, predominantly women. Arthritis occurs when the protective cartilage on bone ends deteriorates, leading to pain, swelling, and limited movement.
Researchers, including those from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, reviewed studies from 1990 to 2024 involving 15,684 participants to assess optimal exercises for arthritis. The study highlighted the importance of exercise in managing knee osteoarthritis and its positive impact on pain relief and quality of life by enhancing muscle mass, control, and joint mobility.
Each year, approximately 350,000 individuals receive an osteoarthritis diagnosis, typically starting to experience symptoms at age 55. The study compared various exercise types, including aerobic, flexibility, strengthening, mind-body, neuromotor, and mixed exercises, in terms of effectiveness on knee pain, function, gait performance, and overall quality of life over short, mid, and long-term periods.
Aerobic exercises like cycling, swimming, and walking consistently showed the highest effectiveness across all measures, providing relief for short and mid-term pain, enhancing function, gait performance, and quality of life. Mind-body exercises such as yoga and tai chi improved short-term function, while neuromotor exercises like squats enhanced short-term gait performance. Strengthening and mixed exercises demonstrated significant improvements in knee function over the medium term.
The research findings are published in the British Medical Journal. Doctoral student Lei Yan emphasized the global impact of osteoarthritis, particularly on older individuals, highlighting the escalating incidence and disability rates due to aging populations and obesity trends. Knee osteoarthritis, affecting nearly 30% of individuals over 45, significantly impacts physical function and quality of life, presenting a substantial public health challenge worldwide.