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Can osteoarthritis patients do walking?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 23, 2026

Walking and aquatic exercises are particularly good for most people with osteoarthritis.

Does walking worsen osteoarthritis?

You may worry that a walk will put extra pressure on your joints and make the pain worse. But it has the opposite effect. Walking sends more blood and nutrients to your knee joints. This helps them feel better.

How far should you walk with osteoarthritis?

Consistency and moderation are important when it comes to walking with arthritis in the knee. To begin with, patients are encouraged to do about 10–15 minutes of light walking per day and eventually work their way up to 30 minutes per day. You can do one 30-minute walk or several shorter walks throughout the day.

Which exercise is best for osteoarthritis?

Walking, biking, swimming, tai chi, yoga, and water aerobics are all good aerobic exercises for people with osteoarthritis. Water exercise is especially ideal because of water's soothing warmth and buoyancy. It's a gentle way to exercise joints and muscles -- plus it acts as resistance to help build muscle strength.

Why is walking good for osteoarthritis?

Walking is recommended for people with arthritis as it's low impact, helps to keep the joints flexible, helps bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. If you do experience pain or you're very stiff afterwards try doing a bit less, factor in more rest and check in with your GP, if you need to.

27 related questions found

How do you stop osteoarthritis from progressing?

Slowing Osteoarthritis Progression

  1. Maintain a Healthy Weight. Excess weight puts additional pressure on weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. ...
  2. Control Blood Sugar. ...
  3. Get Physical. ...
  4. Protect Joints. ...
  5. Choose a Healthy Lifestyle.

Should I exercise with osteoarthritis?

But if there's one osteoarthritis treatment an individual with osteoarthritis should do every day, it's exercise. Regular exercise strengthens muscles and improves flexibility and balance. It not only helps ease pain and stiffness but also improves overall health.

How can I walk with osteoarthritis?

Wear shoes that have ¾-inch heels or less to lower the pressure on your knees. Lose weight so that you can walk with less pain. Use walking poles to help with stability and reduce joint fatigue. Stretch every 15 minutes in a day to keep the joint fluid moving in your knees.

What should you not do with osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the United States.
...
5 Foods to Avoid

  • Red meat and fried foods. Fried foods and red meat contain high levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are known for stimulating inflammation. ...
  • Sugars. ...
  • Dairy. ...
  • Refined carbohydrates. ...
  • Alcohol and tobacco.

Can I run with osteoarthritis?

Knee osteoarthritis doesn't have to stop you from running — when done carefully, it can actually reduce pain associated with arthritis. Many people mistakenly believe that running causes knee osteoarthritis — however, doctors now know this is not true.

Will walking strengthen knees?

Walking. Walking is a low-impact activity that doesn't put too much stress on your knees and can help strengthen the muscles in that area.

What can make osteoarthritis worse?

Being overweight or obese places extra pressure on the joints, which can make the symptoms of osteoarthritis worse. Eating a balanced diet rich in plants, fiber, and anti-inflammatory fats, such as those that the Mediterranean diet includes, can help people living with osteoarthritis to maintain a healthy weight.

What is the new treatment for osteoarthritis?

“Our latest study shows that replenishing adenosine stores by injection works well as a treatment for osteoarthritis in animal models of the disease, and with no apparent side effects,” says lead study author Carmen Corciulo, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at NYU Langone.

Can walking too much cause arthritis?

If you're putting off getting into a regular exercise routine because you're worried that exercise contributes to arthritis, think again. Studies show that exercise can be safe for joints, both in older, overweight folks and in athletes.

Is walking good for arthritis in back?

Despite all the workouts available, walking remains a tried-and-true form of exercise. Not only is it low-impact for achy joints, it also provides cardiovascular benefits. When considering back pain from arthritis, follow some simple rules to get the most out of your walk: Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Can you reverse osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis symptoms can usually be managed, although the damage to joints can't be reversed. Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight and receiving certain treatments might slow progression of the disease and help improve pain and joint function.

Can you live a long life with osteoarthritis?

The good news is that you can live — and live well — with osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. You can get relief from its pain and its consequences.

What is end stage osteoarthritis?

End-stage arthritis is the progressive wearing down of the cartilage that is present between the bones of a joint causing the bones to come in contact with each other and painfully rub against each other during movement of the joint. This results in severe pain with loss of movement and function.

How do you live with osteoarthritis pain?

Living with Osteoarthritis

  1. Living healthily. A good diet and regular exercise will help keep muscles strong and control your weight, which is good for osteoarthritis and also has other health benefits. ...
  2. Taking your medicine. ...
  3. Regular reviews. ...
  4. Vaccinations. ...
  5. Talking to others. ...
  6. Work and money.

How long does osteoarthritis last?

If you experience a flare of symptoms this is usually linked to an episode of inflammation within the joint. It is therefore usual for a flare up to last between 6 and 12 weeks.

Is walking good for osteoarthritis of the hip?

Walking: Bone and joint specialists suggest that walking is one of the best forms of exercise for hip arthritis. Walking boosts blood flow to your cartilage, giving it the nutrients necessary to provide cushion to the ends of your joints.

Is walking good for joint pain?

Walking is the best way to begin the transition from inactivity to activity—even if you have arthritis in a weight-bearing joint like your knee or hip. Walking is a low-impact activity that can help relieve arthritis pain, stiffness, and swelling, but that's not the only reason walking can be a great form of exercise.

How do you stop arthritis from getting worse?

How to reduce your risk of arthritis

  1. Stay at a healthy weight. Extra pounds put pressure on weight-bearing joints like hips and knees. ...
  2. Control your blood sugar. ...
  3. Exercise. ...
  4. Stretch. ...
  5. Avoid injury. ...
  6. Quit smoking. ...
  7. Eat fish twice a week. ...
  8. Get routine preventive care.

How quickly does osteoarthritis spread?

The amount of time it takes to reach an advanced stage of OA varies. For some people, the disease worsens slowly and may take years to reach stage four, but others may see it progress quickly within several months.

Does walking make hip arthritis worse?

Symptoms of Hip Arthritis

The pain is generally worse with weight bearing activities (e.g., walking, standing, or twisting).