Avoid Knee Problems? Strengthen Those Quads!

Although the exact cause of osteoarthritis isn’t known, there are a number of risk factors: getting older, overweight, joint injury, and muscle weakness. And the results of osteoarthritis are clearly known: pain and pain. So anything one can do to prevent it is probably worthwhile.

Mayo Clinic researchers have announced the results of a study that tried to determine the course of events in early knee osteoarthritis. Using MRI, they measured the loss of cartilage that occurs over time. Over 260 men and women with early knee osteoarthritis had MRI images taken at baseline, 15 and 30 months.

They also measured the strength of the quadriceps muscle at baseline. (The quads are the large muscle groups on the front of the thigh.) Those participants with the stronger quads at baseline had less loss of cushioning cartilage at the subsequent MRI examinations. The investigators say that a stronger quad helps keep the patella (kneecap) from moving side to side, thereby speeding erosion of cartilage.

Exercise is known to be good for helping people with established osteoarthritis, as is losing weight. But now it’s clear that the appropriate exercises before there’s serious trouble may help slow or even ward off the process. So get moving , , ,