Gardening Is Not Bad For Knee Arthritis

In this article published in the journal Clinical Rheumatology, the authors concluded that gardening is not associated with the progression of knee arthritis, and that gardening should not be discouraged. ~ Dr. Broussard

Gardening/yardwork in people with knee osteoarthritis is not associated with symptom or structural progression over 48 months: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Published: 01 April 2024
Clinical Rheumatology
Volume 43, pages 1755–1762, (2024)

Grace H. Lo

Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the relationship of gardening/yardwork with symptomatic and structural progression in those with pre-existing radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI), an observational study designed to evaluate potential and known biomarkers and risk factors of knee OA.

Methods
We conducted a cohort study nested within the OAI, including participants ≥ 50 years old with radiographic OA in at least one knee at the time of OAI enrollment. A participant reported the level of gardening/yardwork activity in a self-administered survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of gardening/yardwork on new frequent knee pain, Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) worsening, medial joint space narrowing (JSN) worsening, and improved frequent knee pain.

Results
Of 1808 knees (1203 participants), over 60% of knees had KL grade = 2, 65% had medial JSN, and slightly more than a third had frequent knee symptoms. Gardeners/yardworkers and non-gardners/yardworkers had similar “worsening” outcomes for new knee pain (29% vs. 29%), KL worsening (19% vs. 18%), and medial JSN (23% vs. 24%). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the “worsening” outcomes of new knee pain, KL worsening, and medial JSN worsening were 1.0 (0.7–1.3), 1.0 (0.8–1.3), and 1.1 (0.9–1.4), respectively. The gardeners/yardworkers had an adjusted OR of 1.2 (0.9–1.7) for improved knee pain compared with non-gardners/yardworkers.

Conclusion
Gardening/yardwork is not associated with knee OA progression and should not be discouraged in those with knee OA.

Key Points

• Gardening/yardwork is not associated with knee OA symptomatic or structural progression.

• Gardening/yardwork should not be discouraged in people with knee OA.

Journal Reference