Can Ultra-Processed Food Make Knee Arthritis Worse?
If you’re dealing with knee arthritis or persistent knee pain, you might already know that staying active, maintaining strength, and managing inflammation are key to keeping your joints healthy.
But did you know that what you eat might also play a role in your joint health?
New research suggests that diets high in ultra-processed foods could be linked to muscle weakness and an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA). If knee pain is holding you back, understanding how diet and movement work together may help you find relief.
What the Research Says About Diet & Knee Arthritis
A recent study presented at a radiology conference looked at how ultra-processed foods impact muscle quality and joint health. Here’s what they found: The study followed 660 adults, around age 60, none of whom had been diagnosed with OA. On average, 40% of their diet came from ultra-processed foods—things like packaged snacks, fast food, sugary drinks, and processed meats. Those who consumed more ultra-processed foods showed higher levels of fatty infiltration in their quadriceps muscles (the muscles in the front of the thigh that support the knee).
This fatty infiltration is linked to weaker muscles, reduced stability, and a higher risk of knee arthritis. While the study doesn’t prove that processed foods *cause* arthritis, it does highlight an important connection: weaker muscles mean less support for your knees, which can lead to more pain and a higher risk of arthritis progression.
How Can Physical Therapy Help with Knee Arthritis?
If knee arthritis or chronic knee pain is limiting your mobility, physical therapy can help you regain strength, reduce pain, and keep you moving. At Wells Physical Therapy, we focus on helping you stay active, protect your joints, and improve your overall quality of life—without relying on unnecessary medications or surgeries.
Our Approach to Knee Arthritis Treatment
- Strength Training for Knee Pain Relief – We design targeted exercises to build strength in your quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes, which help stabilize and protect your knee joint.
- Manual Therapy & Joint Mobilization – Hands-on techniques improve joint flexibility, reduce stiffness, and relieve knee pain.
- Personalized Movement Plans – We assess how you move and develop a plan that supports your lifestyle, whether that means getting back to daily walks, playing pickleball, or just getting up and down the stairs without pain.
- Inflammation & Recovery Strategies – Beyond movement, we provide guidance on lifestyle factors like diet, stress, and sleep, which all impact inflammation and joint pain.
Start Feeling Better Today
If knee arthritis pain is slowing you down, you don’t have to just “live with it.” Physical therapy can help you regain strength, improve mobility, and reduce discomfort—so you can keep doing the things you love.
Wells Physical Therapy: Helping You Find Relief from Knee Pain & Knee Arthritis
At Wells Physical Therapy, we proudly serve patients across Naples, St. Augustine, and Ponte Vedra, and Jacksonville, Florida, providing expert physical therapy for knee pain, knee arthritis, and joint mobility issues.
Whether you’re struggling with chronic knee pain, stiffness, or mobility challenges, our team specializes in evidence-based physical therapy to help you regain strength, reduce pain, and improve movement—without surgery or unnecessary medications.
With convenient locations in Naples, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville, we provide personalized knee arthritis treatment plans, including manual therapy, strength training, joint mobilization, and movement rehabilitation to keep you active and pain-free.
If you’re searching for physical therapy near you to relieve knee osteoarthritis pain, recover from an injury, or prevent further joint damage, we’re here to help.
Now accepting new patients in Naples, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville!
Contact us today to schedule an appointment and start your journey to pain-free movement and better joint health. Schedule an appointment today at www.wellsphysicaltherapy.com. Contact Us Let’s work together to get you moving pain-free! 💪