Knee Pain Health Center

Exercise Won't Up Knee Arthritis Risk

An Exercise Physiologist's View

The research showing no increased risk of getting knee arthritis among older exercisers rings true with his clinical experience, says Richard T. Cotton, an exercise physiologist and wellness coach who serves as a spokesman for the American Council on Exercise.

"People who have made it to their 50s without knee problems tend to be OK,'' he says.

 To minimize the risk of problems, however, Cotton tells exercisers to increase their exercise distance very gradually, then increase speed, rather than both at once.

Good workout shoes matched to your activity -- walking, jogging, aerobics, or hiking -- are crucial, he says. "Don't wear them to mow the lawn or go to the mall," he says. Save them for the exercise activity.

And replace them every 3-6 months if you are exercising regularly, he says.