A new study supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation found that adults with or at high risk for knee osteoarthritisOsteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease that most often affects middle age to elderly people. It is commonly referred to as "wear and tear"... (OA)Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease that most often affects middle age to elderly people. It is commonly referred to as "wear and tear"... who are less active in the morning and the evening tend to have a higher risk of death from any cause over about approximately eight ears compared with those who had more typical activity patterns.
While the study does not prove that lower activity in the morning or evening causes earlier death, it suggests that activity levels at those times may signal physical limitations that could be missed if clinicians focus only on total daily activity.
What This Could Mean For Patients:
- Earlier support: Identifying low activity in the morning or evening may help healthcare providers detect mobility problems sooner, even before symptoms feel severe.
- More personalized care: Understanding when activity dips occurs could help tailor interventions to improve daily function
- Better quality of life: Addressing these activity gaps may help patients move more comfortably during important parts of the day — such as getting started in the morning or winding down at night.
This study was supported by the Foundation’s Medical & Graduate Student Preceptorship received by Sydney Liles, DPT with Preceptor Daniel K. White, PT, ScD, MSc .
Read more about this study in this article from Medscape.