Sport despite or because of osteoarthritis?

For many people, joint wear and tear (osteoarthritis) significantly impairs their quality of life. Pain, particularly in the case of knee and hip osteoarthritis, makes movement activities and sport more difficult and therefore less enjoyable.

But is this the right way?

Orthopaedic background: The articular cartilage is located between the joint surfaces as a cushioning and sliding surface, which ensures that the joint can move almost without friction. To achieve this, however, the cartilage must be supplied with sufficient nutrients and water, which requires movement. It is only through movement that synovial fluid is produced and massaged into the cartilage, which effectively "lubricates" the joint. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage structure is usually damaged by overloading or incorrect loading and begins to wear out. If the joint cartilage, which is already damaged, is not given enough nutrients, the wear and tear can progress, joint function deteriorates and symptoms increase. A lack of regular exercise is therefore perhaps the greatest risk of osteoarthritis.

The recommendations

For the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis, sports that move the joint a lot but only put a small amount of strain on it, such as cycling, crawl and backstroke swimming or (Nordic) walking, especially with the inclusion of
gymnastic exercises, are suitable. Sports that put a lot of strain on the joint (e.g. jumping) or involve a high risk of injury
(e.g. duels in ball sports) are not suitable for people with osteoarthritis. The right amount of exercise, which can vary depending on the intensity, duration, frequency and recovery time, is crucial for the positive effect of sport. Sports advice is therefore advisable.

Individually suitable exercise can both maintain or improve joint function and reduce osteoarthritis pain
, as confirmed not only by our own studies. Regular and appropriate exercise can also help to delay operations such as joint replacement
for several years in some cases.

The answer to the question posed above must therefore be: Suitable sport despite and because of osteoarthritis!