Can exercises help knee arthritis?
There is little evidence to suggest that knee arthritis can be prevented or caused by exercises or activities, unless the knee was injured (or was otherwise abnormal) before the exercise program began. There is no evidence that, once arthritis is present in a knee joint, any exercises will alter its course. However, exercise and general physical fitness have numerous other health benefits. Regular range of motion exercises and weight bearing activity are important in maintaining muscle strength and overall aerobic (heart and lung) capacity, and help prevent the development of osteoporosis, which can complicate later treatment. Certainly, people who are physically fit are more resilient and, in general, are more able to overcome the problems associated with arthritis. Physically fit people also tend to recover more quickly from surgery, should that eventually be necessary to treat the knee arthritis.Specifically, how is knee arthritis improved by minimally-invasive (quadriceps-sparing)