Knee osteoarthritis affects millions of older adults, often causing chronic pain and limited mobility. While standard treatments can ease symptoms, they don’t stop the disease from progressing, making prevention and better management strategies essential.
A new study suggests that something as simple as changing the way you walk could help. Researchers found that adjusting foot angle during walking reduced knee pain and slowed cartilage damage in people with early-stage osteoarthritis. Patients trained to shift their foot position slightly reported significant pain relief — results that matched common medications but without drug-related side effects.
Experts say this low-cost, drug-free technique could be a promising way to protect joints and maintain mobility. Because gait retraining is simple and safe, doctors see it as a valuable tool for slowing osteoarthritis progression and improving quality of life.
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