A study dispels the "myth" of injuries caused by exercise to knee joints in patients with osteoarthritis

Therapeutic exercise does not damage knee cartilage in people with osteoarthritis, concluded a new study.

Some patients with this condition, which causes stiff and painful joints, avoid physical exercise for fear of damaging the cartilage, while it is one of the main treatments prescribed.

A researcher from the University of Aberdeen examined 21 previous studies conducted worldwide and involving more than 1,800 participants. He concluded that the therapeutic exercise did not increase the inflammation of the knee joint.

Alessio Bricca, of the University's Institute of Medical Sciences, said, "The belief that exercise hurts cartilage is based on misinformation and the current discord between evidence and persistent beliefs underscores the need for better education. .

"People with osteoarthritis of the knee should be rebadured that the therapeutic exercises prescribed to prevent or treat symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee are safe and that they could possibly improve the composition of the cartilage .

"Instead of avoiding rest and avoiding activities, people with osteoarthritis knee should be encouraged, rebadured and encouraged to engage in exercise and to physical activity, which is essential for good general health and joints.

The findings were published in the British Medical Journal and in the journals Arthritis Care and Research and Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.