Los Altos, CA
With arthritic knee pain, your joints can feel stiff, achy, and difficult to move. Fortunately, the right exercises can help relieve pain, improve mobility, and make daily activities easier. While moving a stiff joint may sound counterproductive, health professionals consistently agree that gentle movement is one of the best ways to reduce arthritic knee pain.
If you struggle with arthritis in your knees, specific exercises can reduce joint stiffness, build endurance and flexibility, ease joint stress, and strengthen the muscles that support and protect your knees. These benefits all work together to naturally ease arthritic knee pain.
Most people with knee arthritis can begin with 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Activities such as walking, swimming, cycling, and yoga are often the most helpful for reducing arthritic knee pain. Even if you cannot complete a full 30-minute session, you can break your routine into shorter, more manageable segments. Even brief bouts of movement help keep your joints healthy and fluid.
Exercise also offers a powerful boost to your mood—something especially important for anyone living with arthritic knee pain. Reduced mobility can be frustrating or even depressing, but exercise releases endorphins, your body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, helping you stay positive.
Still, it’s important to use caution. If your knees hurt more than usual after exercising, it may mean you pushed too hard. When that happens, rest and apply ice to help calm the irritation.
Exercising under expert guidance is the safest way to prevent injury and ensure you avoid movements that are too strenuous. With the right support, you can enjoy the benefits of exercise while easing arthritic knee pain and improving your overall quality of life.
Check out our free guide on knee pain to learn more!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kim Gladfelter, MPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Women's Health Physical Therapy Specialist at PhysioFit Physical Therapy & Wellness
Kim Gladfelter is a physical therapist, Pilates instructor, educator, author, and co-founder of PhysioFit Physical Therapy & Wellness. She is known as a keen, well-rounded expert of healing through movement and women’s health specialist in the Silicon Valley area.
Kim has helped men and women of all ages to stay active and feel their best. She also writes about managing pain in her health columns, blogs and the local Los Altos Town Crier newspaper as well as reaches out to the local community, support groups, schools, libraries, and sports centers to advise and educate on body awareness and therapeutic exercise.