6,000 Steps a Day Help Prevent Knee Osteoarthritis Limitations

Staying physically fit throughout life helps reduce the risk of certain health issues. Now, a recent study published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research examines how a little walking can greatly reduce functional limitations associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

According to researchers at the Sargent College at Boston University in Massachusetts, they discovered that walking 6,000 steps a day or more can help to protect the risk of knee injury. It can also decrease the risk of mobility issues that often result from getting out of a chair or climbing stairs.

"Our study examines if more walking equates with better functioning, and if so, how much daily walking is needed to minimize risk of developing problems with mobility in people with knee OA," said Daniel White, PT, ScD, from Sargent College at Boston University in Massachusetts, in a news release. 

For the study, researchers examined about 1,788 people with or at risk for knee OA. All of the study participants were part of the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study, which measured walking with a monitor over seven days.

"Walking is an inexpensive activity and despite the common popular goal of walking 10,000 steps per day, our study finds only 6,000 steps are necessary to realize benefits. We encourage those with or at risk of knee OA to walk at least 3,000 or more steps each day, and ultimately progress to 6,000 steps daily to minimize the risk of developing difficulty with mobility," Dr. White concluded, via the news release.

As an estimated 27 million Americans 25 and older are diagnosed with OA each year, the findings reinforce the necessity of continued physical fitness in older Americans.