http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_health_news_details.asp?news_id=33175&news_channel_id=159&channel_id=159

Avoid knee pain by taking up low-impact exercises: study

Provided by: RELAXNEWS
Written by: Relaxnews
Nov. 26, 2012




Suffer from knee problems or have a family history of osteoarthritis, joint replacement or obesity? You may want to consider sparing yourself from debilitating knee pain by taking up lower impact sports like walking and swimming rather than running and tennis, says a new study.

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According to the results, those who participated in regular high-impact activities like running were at high risk of developing osteoarthritis and degenerated cartilage.

At the same time, given that those who had low levels of activity also demonstrated cartilage degeneration, researchers conclude that there may be an "optimal" level of physical activity to preserve the connective tissue.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in two people in the US are at risk of developing knee osteoporosis by the age of 85.

By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans over the age of 18 are projected to develop arthritis.