Madonna<\/a> recently released her 15th studio album, complete with big-budget music videos filled with energetic dance <\/a>sequences. <\/p>\n However, in a recent interview, the star also revealed she has a bad knee with no cartilage in it \u201cthanks to dancing for so long in high heels and running on pavement and doing Ashtanga yoga<\/a>.<\/p>\n As a result, last year she swapped \u201cjumping on trampolines and doing dance cardio and doing a lot of what a doctor would call loading on my joints\u201d for low-impact alternatives like Peloton bike rides, Versa Climber sessions and certain types of high-intensity circuit training. <\/p>\n But if exercise is good for our health, how can years of dancing \u2013 and high heels \u2013 contribute to poor knee health? Here is what the experts had to say. <\/p>\n What can be done to combat knee pain and osteoarthritis?<\/p>\n Joint pain and arthritis are indiscriminate, says Professor Lucy Donaldson, director of research at Arthritis UK<\/a>. They can affect anyone, from you and I to pop icons. <\/p>\n Madonna cites a lack of cartilage as the source of her discomfort. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in a joint, which acts as a shock absorber and reduces friction between bones, is diminished. But Professor Donaldson says there are many misconceptions surrounding this process. <\/p>\n \u201cOur joints are not worn down over time and arthritis isn\u2019t just \u2018wear and tear\u2019,\u201d she explains. \u201cOur joints are made up of complex living tissues that our bodies constantly repair and maintain. Osteoarthritis occurs when the body can no longer properly maintain and repair tissues in one or more joints, which is what causes the cartilage to become thin and uneven, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling and changes in the shape of the joint.\u201d<\/p>\n The advice for avoiding this is fairly consistent with the advice for living a healthy life generally: move regularly; eat a balanced and nutritious diet; maintain a healthy weight; strengthen the supporting muscles through strength training to reduce stress on the joint and protect against injury; use good exercise technique.<\/p>\n Exercise is not the enemy, as it is sometimes painted. Recent research from Arthritis UK found that \u201crecreational running does not appear to harm healthy knees and may even help protect against future need for osteoarthritis-related surgery\u201d. <\/p>\n “Exercise is one of the most effective ways people with arthritis can improve their health and manage their symptoms,\u201d says Dr Thomas Naylor, an orthopaedic surgeon, sports scientist and TV doctor. \u201cBut we know that staying active can be challenging and frustrating when your joints are painful, and many people are discouraged by misinformation suggesting that exercise causes detrimental lifelong impact to the joints affected. <\/p>\n \u201cSmall, incremental changes can make a big difference, and it\u2019s important to meet people where they\u2019re at with personalised, accessible plans and support.<\/p>\n \u201cOur bodies are designed to move, and too much rest can actually negatively impact joints as well as the muscles and tissues that support them. Staying as active as possible helps maintain strong and well-supported joints, reduces symptoms and supports overall health and wellbeing.”<\/p>\n Professor Donaldson says there are many different types of exercise and activity that will improve your general health and fitness \u2013 beyond the age-old recommendations of running, swimming and gym-going, which might not be to your taste. <\/p>\n \u201cMost activities can be adapted to suit your needs,\u201d she continues. \u201cA healthcare professional such as a physiotherapist could advise you on suitable forms of exercise to try.<\/p>\n \u201c…Exercise can help with osteoarthritis pain as strengthening the muscles around joints will help make the joint more stable. But if you find you have significantly more or severe pain while exercising or afterwards, you should stop and talk to a healthcare professional about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more: <\/strong>Five stretches you should be doing every day, according to a flexibility expert<\/a><\/p>\n High heels and knee pain <\/p>\n Madonna also laid the blame for her bad knee at the door of dancing in high heels. And there is weight to this claim<\/p>\n \u201cThe wrong shoes can not only hurt the joints in your feet, but they can also throw off your posture and affect joints all the way up your body,\u201d the Arthritis Foundation<\/a> reports. \u201cHigh heels, for example, put extra stress on your knees and may increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Years](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-463030132.jpeg\")
Years of dancing \u2013 and high heels \u2013 contribute to poor knee health (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Madonna](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01KWM19AE92K8CVDW73HHFBKJ6.jpg\")
Madonna says years of dancing in heels contributed to her bad knee, leaving little cartilage left in the joint (PA)<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Madonna_Confessions-II_Album-Artwork_SO-COADF2-16-DSP-Cover-(4).jpg\")
The wrong shoes can not only hurt the joints in your feet, but they can also throw off your posture and affect joints all the way up your body, (Warner Music)<\/p>\n