It's a line that seems blurred at times. You hear that you should participate in regular exercise and physical activity -- but you also hear that it's unwise to overuse your joints. Obviously the other bit of advice you hear is spot on -- you must pace your activities. Researchers evaluated the association of occupations, sports, and life-long activities on knee osteoarthritis.
According to the October 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, there were 480 study participants with knee osteoarthritis who were compared to 490 healthy controls. Results revealed that prolonged squatting and cycling were risk factors for knee osteoarthritis. Knee-bending appeared to be a borderline risk factor for knee osteoarthritis. Carrying loads, climbing stairs, prolonged standing, sitting on the floor, and walking up and downhill were not risk factors for knee osteoarthritis.
Researchers concluded that education is important to teach patients which risk factors may be preventable. When the knee joint is overused, the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis goes up.
Related Resources:
- Osteoarthritis Risk Factors
- Joint Protection Advice
- Can Sports Cause Osteoarthritis?
- What Causes Joint Stiffness?
- Knee Osteoarthritis - What You Need to Know
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Photo by Maurice van der Velden
