HHS HealthBeat (January 18, 2007)

Weight on the knees

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Osteoarthritis can make a person literally weak in the knees. Besides the joint disease itself, pain can discourage people from working out for muscle strength.

Researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis saw what happened when people with moderate to severe osteoarthritis weight trained. Their study, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health, was published in Arthritis Care and Research.

Weight trainers seemed to keep more cushioning cartilage in their knees, and lost less strength, than non-exercisers. The effect wasn’t strong enough to be sure. But researcher Alan Mikesky says people with osteoarthritis can perform strength- training exercises without increases in symptoms.

"It appears to be very well tolerated if it’s structured the weight you are lifting is sufficient to challenge you over eight to 10 reps." (seven seconds)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January, 18 2007