If you have knee arthritis, you’ve probably wondered:
“Am I making this worse by walking?”
Some people avoid walking because they’re afraid they’re “wearing the joint out.”
Others push through pain thinking more movement will fix everything.
The truth is more balanced.
For most people with arthritis, normal walking does not wear the knee out faster.
Joints are designed to move.
In fact, controlled movement helps:
Completely avoiding activity can actually increase stiffness and weakness.
Walking can be beneficial when:
Many people find that knees feel stiff at first — then improve after several minutes of movement.
That’s normal.
Walking may need adjustment if:
In those cases, the issue isn’t that walking is “bad” — it may be that inflammation or joint mechanics need attention.
Arthritic knees don’t fail because they’re used — they often worsen when:
The goal is not zero movement.
The goal is smart movement.
For most people with knee arthritis, walking is not harmful — and may actually support joint health when done appropriately.
If walking has become painful enough that you’re avoiding it altogether, it may be time to understand why.
At Buffalo Arthritis & Joint Pain Center, we help patients explore non-surgical options designed to reduce inflammation and improve joint function so staying active feels possible again.
👉 Movement is usually part of the solution — not the problem.
