Description: Exercise that boosts cardiovascular health may also help keep knee cartilage healthy and protect against knee osteoarthritis, Australian researchers say.

Previous studies on the issue have produced conflicting findings, the team said. Some studies concluded that exercise may trigger knee osteoarthritis, while other studies found that exercise may protect the knees from osteoarthritis.

In this new study, researchers analyzed the effect that varying levels of intensity, frequency and duration of exercise had on the knees of 257 healthy adults, ages 50 to 79, with no history of knee osteoarthritis.

Reporting in the October issue of Arthritis Care & Research, the team found an association between physical activity and good knee health. For example, vigorous activity was linked with healthier cartilage and moderate exercise, including regular walking, was associated with lower incidence of bone marrow lesions.

"This is the first study to demon