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Rachel V Thomas

Madonna Reveals 'Bad Knee' with 'No Cartilage' After Years of Dancing in Heels and Ashtanga Yoga

Pop singer Madonna has opened up about knee damage caused by years of dancing in high heels.

The 67-year-old superstar said running and Ashtanga yoga also added stress to her joints, leaving her with “no cartilage” in her knee, according to Interview Magazine.

“I have a bad knee now. I have no cartilage in it, thanks to dancing for so long in high heels and running on pavement and doing Ashtanga yoga,” Madonna told the magazine.

“Up until a year ago, I was jumping on trampolines and doing dance cardio and doing a lot of what a doctor would call loading on my joints. Can’t do that anymore,” she added.

Madonna said she still works out regularly while listening to her new album Confessions II, but has had to modify her fitness routine to accommodate the injury.

The Queen of Pop said she now focuses on “Peloton bikes and the Versa Climber and high-intensity circuit training. I ride my bike outside a lot. I dance.”

Madonna has previously been open about her knee injury and its impact on her career. In October 2019, she postponed a scheduled Madame X show in Brooklyn, New York.

“It's Hard for Madame to admit that she is also a human being made of flesh and blood and she must rest for the next 3 days to insure full recovery for her knee,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I am not a quitter. This hurts me more than you can imagine. It's time to take those heels and fishnets off for a few days!”

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/marketa-vondrousova-banned-for-4-years-from-tennis-how-doping-tests-work-article-154735001" data-type="tilCustomLink">Marketa Vondrousova Banned For 4 Years From Tennis: How Doping Tests Work</a>

<h2>Can High Heels Affect Knee Health?</h2>

Knee osteoarthritis (OA), a leading cause of disability, is more prevalent in women than men. Wearing high-heeled shoes has been implicated as a potential contributing factor to the higher lifetime risk of osteoarthritis in women.

Several studies have examined the relationship between high heels and knee health. Motion analysis studies have shown changes in knee alignment while walking in heels, changes that researchers have suggested may resemble patterns seen in ageing and knee osteoarthritis progression.

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/uk-met-office-warns-of-pollen-bomb-what-hay-fever-patients-need-to-know-article-154733562" data-type="tilCustomLink">UK Met Office Warns of 'Pollen Bomb': What Hay Fever Patients Need to Know</a>

A 2025 study published in The Knee by researchers from the Singapore Institute of Technology found that wearing 8-cm high-heeled shoes significantly reduced the lateral joint space width of the knee in healthy young women during standing, suggesting increased lateral knee joint stress.

The findings suggest that high heels may specifically affect the lateral compartment of the knee, potentially contributing to increased joint stress during standing.

Wearing heels for long periods can increase the load on the knees. They alter posture and walking patterns, placing additional pressure on the knee joint. Over time, this may strain the ligaments and muscles surrounding the knee, leading to pain, stiffness, and long-term damage.

In 2025, the Nicki Minaj Challenge, inspired by the rapper's 2013 song High School, gained traction on social media. The challenge, which involved balancing in high heels, reportedly resulted in injuries including fractures and, in some cases, deaths.

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Pop singer Madonna has opened up about knee damage caused by years of dancing in high heels. The 67-year-old superstar said running and Ashtanga yoga also added stress to her joints, leaving her with “no cartilage” in her knee, according to Interview Magazine.“I have a bad knee now. I have no cartilage in it, thanks to dancing for so long in high heels and running on pavement and doing Ashtanga yoga,” Madonna told the magazine.“Up until a year ago, I was jumping on trampolines and doing dance cardio and doing a lot of what a doctor would call loading on my joints. Can’t do that anymore,” she added.Madonna said she still works out regularly while listening to her new album Confessions II, but has had to modify her fitness routine to accommodate the injury.The Queen of Pop said she now focuses on “Peloton bikes and the Versa Climber and high-intensity circuit training. I ride my bike outside a lot. I dance.”Madonna has previously been open about her knee injury and its impact on her career. In October 2019, she postponed a scheduled Madame X show in Brooklyn, New York.“It's Hard for Madame to admit that she is also a human being made of flesh and blood and she must rest for the next 3 days to insure full recovery for her knee,” she wrote on Instagram.“I am not a quitter. This hurts me more than you can imagine. It's time to take those heels and fishnets off for a few days!”Also read: Marketa Vondrousova Banned For 4 Years From Tennis: How Doping Tests WorkCan High Heels Affect Knee Health?Knee osteoarthritis (OA), a leading cause of disability, is more prevalent in women than men. Wearing high-heeled shoes has been implicated as a potential contributing factor to the higher lifetime risk of osteoarthritis in women.Several studies have examined the relationship between high heels and knee health. Motion analysis studies have shown changes in knee alignment while walking in heels, changes that researchers have suggested may resemble patterns seen in ageing and knee osteoarthritis progression.Read More: UK Met Office Warns of 'Pollen Bomb': What Hay Fever Patients Need to KnowA 2025 study published in The Knee by researchers from the Singapore Institute of Technology found that wearing 8-cm high-heeled shoes significantly reduced the lateral joint space width of the knee in healthy young women during standing, suggesting increased lateral knee joint stress.The findings suggest that high heels may specifically affect the lateral compartment of the knee, potentially contributing to increased joint stress during standing.Wearing heels for long periods can increase the load on the knees. They alter posture and walking patterns, placing additional pressure on the knee joint. Over time, this may strain the ligaments and muscles surrounding the knee, leading to pain, stiffness, and long-term damage.In 2025, the Nicki Minaj Challenge, inspired by the rapper's 2013 song High School, gained traction on social media. The challenge, which involved balancing in high heels, reportedly resulted in injuries including fractures and, in some cases, deaths.

madonna reveals 'bad knee' with 'no cartilage' after years of dancing in heels and ashtanga yoga

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