Home Exercises Ease Knee Pain as Effectively as Physical Therapy, Study Finds

Home Exercises Ease Knee Pain as Effectively as Physical Therapy, Study Finds

Author: Dr. Mercola January 22, 2026 Duration: 8:32
  • A new trial in The New England Journal of Medicine found that exercise, whether done at home or with a physical therapist, helped reduce knee pain in adults with osteoarthritis and meniscal tears
  • Supervised physical therapy (PT) offered a modest short-term advantage over home exercise. Much of PT's value may come from the attention and interaction with therapists rather than the specific therapeutic interventions
  • Avoiding movement worsens knee arthritis over time by weakening muscles and stiffening joint structures, while regular exercise helps maintain mobility and reduce discomfort
  • Surgery, including arthroscopy and meniscectomy, often fails to outperform exercise and carries long-term risks, making structured movement a better starting point
  • Gentle, joint-friendly exercises like sit-to-stands, mini squats, leg raises, step-ups, cycling, and pool walking can help strengthen your knees and support long-term function

Each week, Dr. Joseph Mercola-Take Control of Your Health offers a direct conversation about navigating the often-confusing world of wellness. Dr. Mercola brings decades of experience as a natural health advocate to these discussions, focusing on practical strategies that go beyond conventional approaches. The episodes dig into the interconnected areas of holistic health, physical fitness, and alternative methods for building resilience. You’ll hear detailed explorations of how everyday choices impact long-term vitality, with an emphasis on personal agency and evidence-informed alternatives. This isn’t about quick fixes but about understanding the underlying principles that can help you make better decisions for yourself and your family. The tone is straightforward and investigative, aiming to equip you with knowledge that is frequently overlooked. Tuning into this podcast feels like accessing a deep resource of non-mainstream health perspectives, all centered on the fundamental goal of sustainable well-being. It’s for anyone who feels that managing their health requires looking at the full picture, from nutrition and movement to the less obvious environmental factors. Dr. Mercola’s weekly insights serve as a catalyst for taking a more active, informed role in your own health journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Podcast Episodes
[not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Federal health officials have reduced the number of vaccines routinely recommended for all U.S. children from 17 to 11, giving parents more room to make individualized decisions based on their child's specific health nee…
[not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Winter itch happens when cold air outside and heating systems inside strip moisture from your environment, causing your skin, sinuses, and sleep to suffer An article featured in The New York Times reported that humidifie…
The Hidden Role of Bacteria in the Formation of Kidney Stones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:23
Kidney stones form when minerals in urine crystallize and clump together. Among all types, calcium oxalate stones are the most common Calcium oxalate stones were long thought to result solely from physical and chemical p…
Human Hearts Can Regrow Some Muscle Cells After Severe Damage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:36
Heart attacks occur every 40 seconds in America, affecting a total of 805,000 people annually. It is characterized by blocked coronary arteries that starve cardiac muscle of blood flow Australian researchers found human…