On a daily basis, I have patients come into my office complaining of knee pain that is a result of osteoarthritis (OA).

This form of arthritis is the “wear-and-tear” form of arthritis.

With OA, the soft cartilage between the bones of a joint breaks down and becomes thin or non-existent.

This results in the surfaces of the two bones within a joint grinding against each other. When this occurs, the person will feel pain whenever the joint is moved.

OA is the most common form of arthritis and nearly one in two adults will develop knee OA during their lifetime.

Just about anyone can get knee OA. It usually develops after the age of 40, but it can potentially occur earlier.

OA mostly affects the hands, hips, knees, and lower back.

Knee OA is even more common in people who are overweight or obese.

Two out of three obese adults are at risk of eventually developing this painful, potentially disabling condition.

Exercising an arthritic knee may seem counterintuitive, but regular exercise can actually lessen, and even relieve, arthritis pain and other symptoms, such as stiffness and swelling.

There are several reasons to exercise when you have knee arthritis.

Some of the more important ones are: exercise maintains the knee joint’s full range of motion; exercise strengthens the muscles that support the knee joint, and strong leg muscles help the joint absorb shock as you walk.

Exercise doesn’t have to be hard to be beneficial.

In fact, gentle, low-impact exercises are best for knee arthritis.

They minimize stress on the joint even as they increase its flexibility and strength.

When you have OA in your knee, mild discomfort during exercise is considered normal.

In fact, so is being a little bit sore the day after exercise.

However, if you experience severe pain, swelling, or stiffness, stop exercising the affected joint and see your doctor right away.

According to the Center for Disease Control, people with knee arthritis should do moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

You can even break it down into three 10-minute sessions each day.

Either works just as well.

You should experience better mobility and less pain within four to six weeks.

Walking is an excellent form of exercise.

It’s low-impact, and because it’s a weight-bearing exercise, it helps strengthen the muscles and build bone.

Wear good, sturdy shoes.

Start out slow, and gradually increase your pace and distance for best results.

Water exercise, or walking in the shallow end of a pool, are also superb for muscle strength and knee flexibility.

Because the body is buoyant in water, it lessens impact to near zero as it makes you work a little harder to move.

Look for water exercise classes at our local Aquatic Center.

Within my office at 2076 Granite Avenue, we now how a rehabilitation gym.

In regards to knee arthritis, I can now examine a patient, confirm the diagnosis of knee OA, set up an appropriate exercise program, and have Kim Penner, a Kinesiologist, teach patients how to do the exercises correctly and safely.

We presently do this for back pain, shoulder pain, ankle pain, and hip pain as well.

Although it is good to have your medical doctor know that you are going to participate in our program, you do not need a referral to enter into the program.

Please call me at my office, 250-378-5456, if you have any questions about our rehab gym.