In knee osteoarthritis, what should be monitored to adjust exercise?

• A. Heart rate
• B. Joint swelling and pain
• C. Blood pressure
• D. Skin temperature

Answer: (B)

In knee osteoarthritis, the clearest signal for adjusting exercise is how the knee responds in terms of swelling and pain. These symptoms reflect how much inflammation and joint load the activity is causing, so they guide you to modify intensity, duration, or the type of movement. If swelling or pain worsens after a session, scale back and choose gentler activities or add rest; if they stay stable or improve, you can progress gradually. Other measures like heart rate, blood pressure, or skin temperature aren’t direct indicators of how the knee will tolerate activity, so they aren’t the best guides for tailoring the program.