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Keeps cartilage healthy: Walking, and other forms of moderate, low-impact exercise, can increase blood flow to cartilage and deliver nutrients to keep it abundant and healthy.
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Strengthens muscles surrounding the knee: Walking helps build strong calves, hamstrings, and quadriceps muscles surrounding the knee joint. When these muscles are stronger, they can bear more weight and work more efficiently, so the knee itself doesn’t have to.
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Helps with weight loss: Increased physical activity, like regular walking, and a healthy diet can help shed a few pounds. Less body weight to carry means less stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knee.
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Increases flexibility: Joint stiffness is a common symptom of OA. Regular walking and stretching can actually lubricate the joints allowing for better range of motion and greater flexibility.