Osteoarthritis and Exercise

Finally, exercises which improve balance and coordination are important for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Stationary equivalents to the surfboard and snowboard have been developed to assist with balance (tilt boards on wooden and plastic barrels), while supervised exercises for post-operative knee surgery (roller balls, elastic bands) can be used to improve balance and coordination in the pre-operative setting. Patients are advised to discuss in detail recommendations for resistance training, balance and coordination activities with their physician and physical therapist before embarking on a strengthening program. The eventual benefits for both musculoskeletal and cardiovascular conditioning will be worth the effort expended.