Osteoarthritis may feel like inevitable “wear and tear,” but science shows movement is one of the most powerful ways to protect and even heal joints. Despite strong evidence that exercise reduces pain and slows progression, many patients are still sent toward surgery before trying this simple, proven therapy. Credit: Shutterstock
Stiff knees, sore hips, and persistent joint pain are often brushed off as normal signs of aging. But osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease worldwide, is not being treated in line with what research actually shows. Experts say the biggest gap is not a lack of options, but a failure to use the most effective one.
The most powerful treatment is not found in a prescription bottle or an operating room. It is movement. Yet in many countries and healthcare systems, patients are rarely directed toward the one therapy proven to reduce pain and protect joints: exercise.
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