There is excellent evidence that exercise produces meaningful improvements in the lives of Canadians with OA (osteoarthritis). For example, a 2015 Cochrane Review of high quality evidence from over 50 randomized controlled trials related to exercise for knee OA emphasizes that land-based exercise programs improve pain, physical function, and quality of life. These benefits of exercise are equivalent in size to the benefits provided by pain medication!

Our strength as physiotherapists is tailoring exercise to fit the person and the health condition(s) they are facing. For the person with knee OA, cornerstones of exercise are:

• Functional, weight-bearing exercise that focuses on strengthening the quads
• Flexibility exercise that increases range of motion (hips, hips, hips, and ankles) to ensure the best possible lower limb alignment
• Aerobic training to combat the number one risk factor for knee OA: obesity

Contact our physiotherapists to get a customized exercise program that is right for you.