intuitively, I started going barefoot or sandals only AND walking like you are suggesting. It has helped some... but after 30 years of 24x7 knee pain (it is getting a little better sloooowly, but I pay a big price for doing some things like hiking or my martial arts) I am more than ready to try wrapping them in Castor oil packs every night if I have to. The hour or so of wrapping and clean up will be more than worth it to me if I even see 25 - 30% improvement.