Fit or fat, exercise doesn’t harm joints, cause arthritis, reports Harvard Men’s Health Watch
It's easy to come up with excuses not to exercise. One of these—that exercise is hard on the joints and may cause arthritis—has been hard to dispel. Recent studies show that exercise can be safe for joints, both in older, overweight folks and in athletes, reports the September 2009 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.
Between 1993 and 2005, the famed Framingham study found no link between exercise and arthritis of the knee. The most active people in this cohort had the same risk of arthritis as the least active. Although the Framingham study did not confirm that exercise is good for the joints, an Australian study did just that in 2004. It showed that people who performed the most vigorous weight-bearing exercise had the thickest, healthiest knee cartilage. In 2008, another study, which compared runners to nonrunners, found little evidence that exercise causes arthritis.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.