As we get older, we’re all prone to increasing aches, pains and stiffness. This is because with time, our bodies begin to lose water content, which makes our muscles and connective tissue less elastic. It also makes the protective cartilage that allows for smooth joint motion more brittle, leading to increased bone-on-bone contact and inflammation. When this occurs on a chronic basis it is diagnosed as osteoarthritis, and one of the most common locations for this to occur is the knees. 

Since arthritis in the knee makes it difficult to walk, bend and accomplish everyday tasks, it’s easy to wonder whether walking is beneficial for the knees. Because it has so many benefits for your health, the fact of the matter is that unless your doctor specifically tells you not to, walking can be very good for you if you have arthritis in the knee. 

To help you understand these benefits, and how working with a physical therapist can help you minimize the impact that walking has on your knees, we’re happy to share the following brief overview. As always, we encourage you to reach out to us with any questions or if you require more information. 

Physical therapy can help you walk more easily if you have knee arthritis

Walking helps keep arthritic joints mobile, increases cardiovascular health, builds muscles and can help with weight loss, which can lighten the load on your knees. However, for so many people with arthritis in the knees, that five-minute walk can be so painful that you wonder whether it’s worth it. This is where a physical therapist comes in. Therapists are biomechanical experts who understand how the body works and how conditions like arthritis affect basic functioning. 

To help patients overcome arthritis-related mobility problems, physical therapists can do the following: 

• Assess factors like posture and gait to determine if issues are interfering with basic movement
• Review medical history and ask questions about symptoms to gauge the progress of the condition 
• Prescribe treatments that include movement and posture training, therapeutic exercise, joint and soft tissue mobilization as well as trigger point therapy to help improve mobility and make it easier to walk

Your therapist can also discuss lifestyle factors and at-home treatments that may also make it easier to walk if you’re living with arthritis in the knees. 

Rehab Access can help you regain the activity level you deserve

If you want to get back to a healthy and active lifestyle and better manage your knee arthritis, contact the caring and dedicated team at Rehab Access today. We’ll be glad to help you schedule your initial appointment with one of our friendly therapists.