Daily walking cuts need for TKA over 5 years

A new study suggests that small changes in walking behavior could delay the need for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in people with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis.

Replacing time not walking with walking at moderate-to-vigorous i­­­ntensity was associated with not more but less risk of TKA over five years, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology held in Chicago.

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There is contradicting evidence whether walking more is associated with structural worsening and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). One reason for inconsistent findings is that walking can occur at different intensities. However, little is known about the association of walking intensity with the risk of TKA.

Hiral Master and associates conducted a study to examine the extent to which walking intensity is associated with the risk of TKA over five years in adults with or at high risk of knee OA.

The researchers used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative to examine the extent to which walking intensity correlates with the risk for TKA among adults with or at high risk for knee OA. They assessed the effect of replacing time not walking with walking at very-light, light, or moderate-to-vigorous intensities on the risk for TKA over 5 years.

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The key study findings included are:

• Of the 1854 participants without TKA at baseline and who wore the accelerometer for ≥ 4 days ( age: 65.0 ± 9.1 years, BMI: 28.4 ± 4.8 kg/m2, 55% female), 108 (6%) participants received a TKA over five years.


• Replacing 5 minutes of non-walking time with 5 min of walking at moderate-to-vigorous intensity reduced the risk of TKA by 16%.


• There was no effect on very-light and light intensity.


• Similar results b were found for ROA and SxOA only samples

The authors suggested that clinicians should consider encouraging their patients with or at high risk of knee OA to go for a brisk walk for five to 10 continuous minutes each and every day.

For reference log on to https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/friend-or-foe-does-walking-at-higher-intensities-increase-or-decrease-the-risk-of-total-knee-arthroplasty-over-five-years/