Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition that affects millions of people. It is caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint, which leads to pain, swelling, and stiffness.

While exercise can be beneficial for many people with knee osteoarthritis, there are certain types of exercises that should be avoided. Here are three exercises that can worsen knee osteoarthritis:.

1. High-Impact Aerobic Exercise

High-impact aerobic exercises such as running, jumping, and step aerobics can put a lot of stress on the knees. For individuals with knee osteoarthritis, these exercises can cause further damage to the joint and increase pain and inflammation.

It is important to engage in low-impact aerobic exercise instead, such as walking, cycling, or swimming, to maintain cardiovascular health without putting unnecessary stress on the knees.

2. Deep Squats and Lunges

Deep squats and lunges involve bending the knees deeply, which can be painful for individuals with knee osteoarthritis. These exercises place a lot of stress on the knee joint and can exacerbate pain and inflammation.

Instead, individuals with knee osteoarthritis should perform shallow squats and lunges, or use modifications such as placing a chair behind them for support.

3. High-Intensity Interval Training

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has become a popular form of exercise in recent years, but it can be detrimental for individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

HIIT involves short bursts of high-intensity exercise, often including jumping and running exercises. For individuals with knee osteoarthritis, the high-impact nature of these exercises can cause further damage to the knee joint.

Instead, low-impact exercises such as biking or using an elliptical machine can be helpful for improving cardiovascular health without exacerbating knee pain and inflammation.

Conclusion

While exercise is important for maintaining overall health and managing knee osteoarthritis, it is important to choose the right exercises.

High-impact aerobic exercise, deep squats and lunges, and high-intensity interval training can worsen knee pain and inflammation, so individuals with knee osteoarthritis should avoid these types of exercise. Instead, low-impact aerobic exercise, shallow squats and lunges, and low-intensity exercise can be helpful for improving overall health without causing further damage to the knee joint.