Exercise Can Protect Your Joints – Here's What You Should Try

Joints weaken with age as cartilage and synovial fluid decrease.

Articular cartilage covers bone ends; synovial fluid lubricates knees, hips and shoulders.

Synovial fluid reduces friction and supplies nutrients to cartilage.

Osteoarthritis is the gradual breakdown of cartilage and affects more than 500 million people worldwide.

Exercise helps protect joints, reduces pain and improves function in knee osteoarthritis, can have effects similar to anti‑inflammatory drugs without the same side effects, and proprioception exercise may help maintain body‑position sense.