Knee osteoarthritis, or knee OA, is the most common form of arthritis of the knee, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Osteoarthritis is a slow but progressive disease. The cartilage in your knee eventually wears away, making for a very painful condition. Knee osteoarthritis is commonly seen in middle-aged and older adults. Exercise with knee OA is important to help keep your strength up and maintain mobility. Low-impact cardiovascular exercises can be completed with minimal stress on your knees. Always consult your physician before beginning a cardio exercise program with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Walking
Walking is a low-impact exercise with numerous benefits for your health including cardio. Walking can help you stay strong, fit, manage your weight and lower your risk of developing heart disease, according to MayoClinic.com. Walking causes minimal impact on your knees. A walk that is enough to break a sweat qualifies for the American College of Sports Medicine's exercise guidelines, which indicate a moderately-intense workout should be enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat. While engaging in moderately-intense workouts, you still still be able to engage in conversation without having difficulty talking. You should participate in 30 minutes of cardio exercise, five days per week.
Water Exercise
Water exercise helps to keep your joint flexibly and to restore motion in your joints, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It also provides you with cardiovascular benefits, including endurance. Water walking, regular swimming and water aerobics classes can enable you to reap the cardio benefits of a workout with very little impact on your knees. A successful- a 20 minutes workout session with continuous movement- water workout can provide you with the same results as intense land exercise.
Exercise Bike
Exercise bikes are low-impact and can help you build muscle and maintain or increase mobility in your knees, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS. The seat of your exercise bike should be adjusted so that your foot lightly touches the pedal. Your knees should be almost completely straight. Bike backward for an easier workout. Increase the resistance on your bike to up the intensity of your workout. The Arthritis Foundation recommends cycling as a form of cardiovascular exercises for those with OA.
Elliptical Machine
An elliptical machines provides you with a low-impact exercise that improves the health of your heart and lungs, according to AAOS. The cross-country skiing motion of an elliptical provides you with the same cardio benefits as running or jogging does. This form of exercise is recommended for those with OA, according to The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. The elliptical keeps the joints moving without providing any excess stress.
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