Expert: Ken Alan - 5/17/2005

Question
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Followup To
Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. I meant if someone did not currently have arthritis or a problem in the knee or hip, couldn't regular walking wear down the joints, and therefore cause arthritis to occur in those areas?  Thanks

If osteoarthritis in the knee and hip is the wearing down of the joints, wouldn't regular walking for exercise help to cause someone to develop arthritis in those areas?
Answer -
Hi,

Maybe.  It depends on the severity of the degeneration of the cartildge in the joint.  If it hurts to stand and bear weight on your legs, walking is not appropriate.  Non-weight bearing exercise is better - water exercise or bike.

If you can bear weight, then walking is probably good, because it conditions the muscles in the legs, and that is very important to help support the knee joints and hip joints.  

Strenthening the leg and hip muscles has to be done in order to minimize joint pain and to keep mobile.  Stretching has to be done for the same reasons.
Hope this helps.

Answer
Good question.  Actually, if someone did not currently have arthritis or a problem in the knee or hip, regular walking doesn't wear down the joints or cause arthritis to occur in those areas.  Most people will have some level of arthritis as they age.  However, arthritis like many diseases, is heavily influenced by genetics.  Injuries also can cause arthritis.  Sometimes, vigorous exercise or inappropriate exercise can exhasberate the condition, but it usually is not the cause of the condition.  It used to be thought that runners would be more suseptible to arthritic conditions as they aged because of the pounding from running.  But studies haven't proved that to be true.  Runners are not any more or less prone to have arthritis than non-runners in older years.

Walking is usually recommended as you age because it's easier on the joints than running, and walking increases circulation which loosens up stiff joints, plus the other benefits of aerobic exercise (keeping weight in check, which can make the condition worse, etc.)  Walking and additional strength exercise also helps the joints stay healthy by maintaining and building muscle, and the more muscle you have, the more you alleviate joint discomfort.  Joints can't get stronger, but the muscles around the joint can get stronger. Generally, inactive older people have far greater discomfort in their joints than active individuals.

Hope this helps.