Cartilage has no direct blood supply, so it depends on movement to stay nourished — joint fluid circulates when you use the joint. This is why prolonged inactivity stiffens knees and hips just as surely as overuse damages them. The goal is regular, moderate loading rather than either extreme.
Strength around a joint matters more than most people expect. Well-conditioned thigh muscles absorb load that would otherwise pass through the knee, and core strength reduces the strain carried by the lower spine. Two or three short sessions each week are enough to make a measurable difference, and they need no gym equipment to begin.
See a clinician if pain persists beyond a few weeks, wakes you at night, or comes with swelling and locking. Early assessment often means physiotherapy and activity changes rather than surgery. Our orthopaedics team assesses and treats in the same visit wherever possible.
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