Can You Exercise Your Way Out of Knee Replacement?

Nearly 800,000 total knee replacements are performed each year in the U.S. If you think you might be headed that way, there may be a simple solution to keep you out of the operating room. Researchers suggest that building up your thigh muscles could be the key.

Your quadriceps and hamstrings work together to help you walk, run, and jump. When you move your leg, the quadriceps contract while the hamstrings relax, protecting your knee joint. However, an imbalance between these muscles can alter biomechanics and contribute to the progression of osteoarthritis.

In a new study, researchers compared thigh muscle volume in 67 patients who underwent total knee replacement with 67 control participants. The results showed that having stronger thigh muscles significantly lowered the odds of needing a total knee replacement. Overall muscle strength and balance between the quadriceps and hamstrings also played a crucial role.

Although the study focused on people with arthritis, the findings may also benefit others who are physically active. The lead author notes that while these results are essential for targeted therapy in populations at risk for osteoarthritis, the general public can also benefit by incorporating appropriate strengthening exercises as a preventive measure.