2 Exercises for Arthritis to Improve Walking and Balance! Hip, knee, ankle, and even lower-back osteoarthritis can make walking and balance feel unsteady. Why? Because pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, and reduced joint control all work together to make every step feel harder than it should. And that affects everything — going to the shops, getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, walking the dog, even moving around your own home. When balance feels unpredictable, confidence drops… and movement