Brisk Walks May Decrease Need for Replacement of Arthritic Knees

A study presented at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting suggests people with arthritic knees could be less likely to require knee replacement surgery if they practice regular, brisk walks every day, reports HealthDay News . The researchers analyzed data from more than 1,800 older adults with knee arthritis who wore portable devices that tracked their walking intensities for at least four days. Six percent of the participants had total knee replacement surgery over the next five years. The research indicated that adding five minutes of moderate-to-high intensity walking each day can reduce a person's odds of needing knee replacement surgery by 16 percent. Moderate-to-high intensity is defined as exceeding 100 steps per minute. However, the University of Delaware's Hiral Master notes light walking, akin to a "stroll," may have no effect.