217. Walking helps people with knee pain and arthritis
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Walking might be good for your knees, even if you have arthritis. In a new study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston surveyed over 1,000 people ages 50 or older with knee osteoarthritis and followed them for four years. Of the patients who did not walk for exercise, almost 4 in 10 developed new, frequent knee pain. Only 26 percent of arthritis patients who did regularly walk for exercise developed new aches and pains in their knees, and they had less structural damage. Over 32 million adults in this country have osteoarthritis. For years, many orthopedic surgeons have discouraged patients with osteoarthritis from impact exercise, like jogging and walking, and instead recommended non-weight-bearing exercise. This study offers a simple remedy, as walking is easy to do, and it’s free.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
