University of Essex study finds high-impact exercise may benefit osteoarthritis patients

A new study involving 17,661 individuals with osteoarthritis challenges traditional medical advice that suggests patients avoid high-impact activities in favor of low-impact exercises like swimming.

Research coordinated by Bernard Liew at the University of Essex indicates that continuing high-impact exercises—such as jogging, tennis, skiing, ballet, and hiking—does not increase the likelihood of needing knee replacements. Furthermore, participants engaging in high-impact activities were found to have a 36% to 48% lower chance of requiring total hip replacement surgery compared to those performing low-impact exercises.

Liew noted that the widespread perception that osteoarthritis patients should automatically switch to low-impact movement may cause individuals to miss out on the physical, mental, and social benefits of more vigorous activity.