6000 Steps To Reduce Knee Osteoarthritis Risks
Over time, knee osteoarthritis can limit your mobility. We know that exercise is beneficial, but now researchers have discovered exactly how many daily steps you need to take to reduce knee osteoarthritis risks.
Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive disease
Knee osteoarthritis can erode mobility and affect the quality of day-to-day life. Over time, knees become stiffer and more painful. People affected can find it increasingly difficult to get out of bed, rise from a chair, climb stairs, or even walk.
Active life and regular exercise are beneficial
We know that an active life and regular exercise are beneficial for people with osteoarthritis. Walking is a particularly effective way to mitigate the functional loss associated with arthritic knees. Walking does wonderful things for osteoarthritic knees, including the following:
- Reduction in joint pain.
- Increases joint flexibility.
- Strengthens the muscles around the joint to help support them.
- Improves blood flow in and around the knee.
- Helps nutrients to circulate into the knee cartilage.
- Psychologically, walking builds confidence that exercise goals are doable.
Evaluating walking habits
Of course, walking only helps if you make time to do it. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that two-thirds of U.S. adults with arthritis incorporated less than 90 minutes of walking into their weekly exercise routine. This prompted researchers to wonder about the steps, or “unstructured walking,” that we take in the course of our daily activities. People with painful knees might not be walking an hour a day or clocking in 10,000 daily steps on their Fitbit, but are they taking enough steps during their daily activities to offset the risk of functional limitation caused by joint disease?
The researchers evaluated the walking habits of almost 1,800 people. These people had knee osteoarthritis or were at high risk for it, but had yet to experience any functional limitation. After two years, they found that the more people walked, the less likely they were to lose functionality. The “magic number” of daily steps required to maintain functionality was 6,000. People who took even more steps experienced additional benefits.
If you are inspired to protect your knees, but have not been active, we encourage you to make a change. But, don’t jump in with a sudden change in your activity level. It’s important to increase your number of daily steps incrementally to protect your overall health and avoid injury. Use a pedometer or activity monitor, and try first to log 3,000 steps per day. Then, gradually work up to a 6,000 step goal. If that feels comfortable, you can add even more steps per day.
Wearing a pedometer may be much easier than sticking to an exercise routine over time, and will protect the lifestyle you love. All you have to do is walk.
When to seek treatment for your arthritis
Arthritis doesn’t have to spell the end of an active life. If you are experiencing worrisome symptoms or persistent pain, the renowned arthritis specialists at Summit Orthopedics can help. We work with you to confirm a diagnosis and develop an appropriate conservative treatment plan. If nonsurgical treatments fail to support your lifestyle goals, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons will consult with you and discuss appropriate surgical options. Summit is home to innovative joint replacement options. Our Vadnais Heights Surgery Center is one of only two surgery centers nationally to receive The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement.
Start your journey to healthier joints. Find your arthritis expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.
Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.
More resources for you
- Workplace Tricks To Ease Arthritic Joints
- Arthritis-Safe Exercise Guidelines From Arthritic Specialist Dr. Daren Wickum
- How To Handle Stairs When You Have Arthritic Knees
- Ten Days To Improved Range Of Motion
- Massage: A Luxurious Gift with Health Benefits
Also see...
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Ask Dr. Hansen: Can Arthritis Pain Be Managed Without Surgery?
Summit’s arthritis specialists offer a broad range of nonsurgical treatments to manage arthritis pain.
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Arthritis-Safe Exercise Guidelines From Arthritic Specialist Dr. Daren Wickum
These arthritis-safe exercise guidelines will help you confidently maintain an exercise program that won’t cause further damage to your joints.
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Ask Dr. Hansen: What Are The Surgical Options For Knee Pain?
Often, knee pain can be controlled with nonsurgical treatment. When these treatments fail to manage pain, Dr. Hansen explains the available surgical options.