A daily walk may be one of the simplest ways to support better knee health, especially for people with knee osteoarthritis or those at risk of developing it. Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of functional limitations in older adults, often making everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and getting around the home more difficult.
Research involving nearly 1,800 adults found that walking more each day was linked to better function and a lower risk of disability. The participants, whose average age was 67, either had knee osteoarthritis or were at risk for it. Each person wore a pedometer so researchers could track daily steps, and their function was evaluated over a two-year period.
The study found that every additional 1,000 steps per day was associated with meaningful improvement. Functional limitations were reduced by 16% on performance-based measures, such as walking speed, and by 18% on self-reported measures of daily function.
For people with knee osteoarthritis, walking can help maintain mobility, support joint function, and encourage greater independence. However, walking is only one part of a well-rounded approach to managing osteoarthritis. Physical therapy can also provide long-term benefits by improving flexibility, strength, balance, and overall function.
With the right guidance, many people with knee osteoarthritis can safely increase activity, reduce pain, and stay more active in daily life.
Source:
White DK, Tudor-Locke C, Zhang Y, et al. Daily walking and the risk of incident functional limitation in knee osteoarthritis: an observational study. Arthritis Care & Research, 66 (9): 1328-1336.
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