Exercise is to be encouraged, not avoided! Walking (“a minimum of 3000 steps (approximately 30 minutes), at least 3 days/week), improves knee pain in patients with “wear and tea” (osteo)arthritis. Many obese people have such issues. While knee replacement will help some, even those patients may do better if they exercise and get themselves in better shape before surgery.
One friend started salsa dancing… 4 nights a week dancing led to a 40 lb weight loss… and no more knee pain!
For a Chicago-style steppin’ dance lesson, see this video.
Make the exercise fun! “…older adults can significantly improve their aerobic power, lower body muscle endurance, strength and flexibility, balance, agility, and gait through dancing.”
I can dance by myself, just not with other folks 🙂 I can’t even do the steps to the electric slide… Pitiful!