By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 5, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis , one of the first questions you may ask is whether it is safe to keep walking. Many patients worry that physical activity will accelerate cartilage breakdown and make their condition worse. Some have even been told by well-meaning providers to stop exercising altogether. However, current evidence tells a very different story: walking is not