Take a hike or get on your bike to help painful knees

WALKING, cycling and swimming may be the best exercises to ease knee pain, a study of patients with osteoarthritis suggests.

- By Hanna Geissler Health Editor

The condition occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears away, causing pain, swelling and impaired movement.

Of the estimated 10 million people in the UK who have osteoarthritis, 5.4 million are affected in their knees.

Researchers looked at 217 trials involving common exercise therapies that were published between 1990 and 2024.

Aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming consistently proved the most successful treatment.