Exercise ‘could prevent osteoarthritis’

Regular exercise is one of the best ways that people can achieve their weight loss goals, but it can also prevent osteoarthritis, a study has suggested.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), found that people at risk of osteoarthritis could be able to delay or prevent the disease's onset through light but regular exercise.

The study's senior author Dr Thomas Link, professor of radiology and chief of musculoskeletal imaging at UCSF, stressed that taking part in high-impact activity, such as running, for more than one hour a day at least three times a week can cause cartilage to degenerate and increase the risk for development of osteoarthritis.

"On the other hand, engaging in light exercise and refraining from frequent knee-bending activities may protect against the onset of the disease," he added.

The study's findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Earlier in the year, researchers from the University of Grenoble Medical School in France found aerobic exercise to be safe for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

What does your exercise routine include?