Study Identifies The Best Form Of Exercise For OA

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Knee osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning the knee joint gradually wears down, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility. It is very common, particularly in adults over 45. Now, a major recent investigation published in the British Medical Journal suggests that aerobic exercise — especially walking, cycling, and swimming — is the most effective type of physical activity for managing this condition.

To determine which forms of exercise work best, researchers analyzed 217 clinical trials conducted between 1990 and 2024, providing data on more than 15,000 participants. They compared several exercise types, including aerobic, strengthening, flexibility, mind-body, neuromotor, and mixed exercise programs.

The results showed that aerobic exercise consistently delivered the strongest benefits across short-, medium-, and long-term follow-up periods. It was especially effective at reducing pain and improving physical function. Other approaches also helped — for example, mind-body exercises improved short-term function, and neuromotor training improved walking performance — but researchers recommend using these along with aerobic exercise rather than instead of it. Importantly, none of the exercise types increased the risk of adverse events, reinforcing that exercise is generally safe for people with knee osteoarthritis.