BACKGROUND: Exercise therapy is a first-line treatment for osteoarthritis. However, many patients and some clinicians believe that exercise therapy might harm knee cartilage in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. CLINICAL QUESTION: Does exercise therapy damage knee joint cartilage in individuals at risk of, or with, knee osteoarthritis? KEY RESULTS: Systematic reviews demonstrate that exercise therapy does not seem to harm cartilage structure or quality. CLINICAL APPLICATION: To dispel the misconception that exercise therapy wears down knee cartilage, clinicians should proactively address these concerns when treating patients with knee osteoarthritis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2025;55(7):1-5. Epub 16 May 2025. doi:10.2519/jospt.2025.13069.
Keywords: cartilage; clinical practice; exercise therapy; knee; osteoarthritis; physical activity.