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Women who have strong thigh muscles may have a lower incidence of osteoarthritis of the knee, say reasearchers.
Osteoarthritis is called the wear-and-tear arthritis. It most frequently affects the knees and hips, and is more common in heavier people and among those people who put a lot of strain on their knees through their lifestyle. Anyone who has even had a temporary knee problem can likely attest to how difficult life can become if you have pain and limited mobility in just one knee, let alone both.
Unfortunately, osteoarthritis isn’t uncommon. It’s estimated that almost 27 million adults in the United States have osteoarthritis. Among adults 45 years old or older, 16% have it in at least one knee.
In a study, the results of which were published in the most recent issue of Arthritis Care & Research, researchers followed 3026 people to see how their thigh muscle strength related to osteoarthritis. The researchers thought that this could help predict the onset of osteoarthritis. The participants, aged 50 to 79 years, were followed for 2 and a half years (30 months).
During the testing phases (beginning and end of the study), the women were tested for thigh muscle strength, the balance of strength between these muscles and the hamstrings, bone density, as well as physical characteristics, such as weight. The researchers also took x-rays of the participants’ knees. Finally, at both the beginning and the end, the participants were asked to report any pain, aching or stiffness in 
the knee. Data on height, weight (Body Mass Index-BMI), femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), and physical activity status was also collected from participants.
At the end of the study, 680 men and 937 women were available for analysis. Among them, 48 men and 93 women developed osteoarthritis, which the doctors were able to determine by x-ray. The researchers found that the women who had the most knee extensor strength also had the lowest incidence of osteoarthritis in the knee. This didn’t translate to the men though.
So ladies, strengthen those thigh muscles!
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Images: iStock.com
