According to experts, resistance training, or aerobic conditioning, is an effective approach for reducing pain in the knees, also known as osteoarthritis, especially exercises that target the quadricep muscles. However, the exercise most effective is often a subject to debate. Studies have shown that aerobic exercises, such as swimming, walking and cycling, are beneficial for reducing pain in knee osteoarthritis. These studies involved randomized controlled trials, evaluating exercise in people with this condition. The majority of trials showed a positive effect on disability and pain, reducing pain by twenty percent on average. The effect is small yet significant.
Aerobic exercise or strength training
There are a few exercises which are more effective than others when it comes to improving knee pain from osteoarthritis, however, the key to attaining relief is consistency. Low-impact exercises, aerobic exercises, and strength training improve the ease of mobility and reduce pain. People who are consistent with their exercise programs see the most improvement in terms of mobility and pain relief, regardless of the activity chosen. Researcher Tatyana A. Shamliyan, of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, explains that many people with knee-pain related to arthritis avoid exercising and many give up as soon as they begin an exercise program, due to the pain. This can be a big deterrent for people with osteoarthritis and for this reason, it is important to begin an exercise routine under the supervision of a physical trainer.
Osteoarthritis related knee pain
Half of all adults that reach the age of eighty-five, according to the CDC, will develop knee pain related to osteoarthritis. However, two-thirds of obese adults will develop the condition. According to a review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concerning the impact of aerobic exercises and low-intensity exercises, exercises improved disability, pain and quality of life considerably. While there were benefits from some activities, including water aerobics and strength training, there were no significant benefits in others. However, this does not imply that there is no purpose in these therapies for the treatment of knee pain related to arthritis. A disadvantage of this study was that the researches were only able to assess the impact of individual treatments and there is still a lack of research into whether a combination of exercises or treatments is more useful for alleviating pain.
Summing it all up!
Physical therapy programs typically include a variety of differing therapies. The impact of these therapies is not only limited to pain relief but has a positive impact on overall ability and movement. The message is clear, exercise helps, and the best exercise for the patient is the one that they consistently perform. Physical therapists recommend choosing an activity which does not worsen the pain after a few hours of completion and the one that you enjoy. The key is to do something; any physical activity will be better than doing none at all.
