Can you perform wall squats with knee arthritis?
Disease description:
Knee arthritis mostly occurs in the elderly, but it can also affect younger individuals. It may be unilateral or bilateral. Clinical symptoms include pain, joint deformity, limited mobility, and difficulty walking. So, can people with knee arthritis perform static squat exercises?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Squatting with knees held in a static position is not recommended for individuals with knee arthritis. As the knee bends, the contact area between the patella and femoral joint surfaces, as well as between the tibial and femoral joint surfaces, progressively increases, leading to greater friction. Since the underlying pathological changes in knee arthritis involve degeneration of articular cartilage and bone overgrowth, pain occurs during contact and friction between the upper and lower joint surfaces. Over time, this can lead to increasingly severe joint wear and deterioration. Therefore, in addition to avoiding static squatting, activities involving knee flexion and rotation—such as playing table tennis, badminton, or mountain climbing—should be minimized as much as possible.
