Exercise And Arthritis
April 19th, 2006 by Richard CockrumTo resist the frigidity of old age one must combine the body, the mind and the heart - and to keep them in parallel vigor one must exercise, study and love.
Karl von Bonstetten
There is an old saying that you are only as old as your joints. As we get older, we begin to experience the aches and pains in our joints that we know as arthritis. There are two main types of arthritis that affect older people � osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints and connective tissues of the body.One of the essential tools in staving off and decreasing the effects of arthritis is exercise. Exercise helps to reduce joint pain and stiffness, builds up the muscle around joints to help support them, and increases your flexibility and endurance. Better yet, regular exercise improves your overall health, increases your energy level, and can help decrease depression.
There are three main forms of exercise that people with arthritis need to engage in � flexibility exercises, strengthening exercises, and cardiovascular exercises. Each of these benefits you in different ways.
The most important of these are the flexibility exercises. These are gentle stretching exercises that should be done every day. They help reduce the risk of joint injury by gently loosening and warming up your muscles and tendons. Good forms of flexibility exercises include yoga, tai chi, and simple stretching.
Strength exercises help build your muscles so they better support your joints and absorb shock and protect the joints from injury. You don’t need to do heavy weight-lifting. You can use isometrics, small free weights, or machines every other day.
Cardiovascular or aerobic exercises are any exercises that use the whole body in continuous motions. They make your heart, lungs, circulatory system, and muscles work more efficiently, leading to improved endurance, improved sleep, decreases in depression and stress, and stronger bones. Try to participate in aerobic exercise for 20 � 30 minutes three times a week. Start slow and work your way up. Good exercises are walking, swimming, dance, and golf.
As with anything, you need to discuss your plans with your doctor before starting an exercise program when you have arthritis, especially if you have a severe case. The important thing is to start. Exercise is one of the best tools you have to manage arthritis.
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July 25th, 2006 at 7:30 am
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis, characterized by chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joints, likely to affect older people. Also called degenerative joint disease. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a cushion between the bones of the joints. It occurs more frequently in females. Osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. Osteoarthritis commonly affects the hands, feet, spine and large weight bearing joints.
July 25th, 2006 at 8:44 am
Hi Aeryn. Thank you for stopping by. The symptoms of osteoarthritis you give are correct. The point of the article is that within the capabilities of the sufferer exercise can help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, whether it is an osteoarthritis or a rheumatoid arthritis.
Stop by again.
December 7th, 2006 at 12:07 am
Thank you for the information you have provided.
Arthritis (any form) is
debilitating and exercise, I agree, is important period. Personally, I prefer to
try alternate forms of treatment and believe that there are also natural
remedies that can aide in reduction if not eradication of the inflammation of
arthritis. Including an exercise regime to this is key. Thanks again for the
information.
December 7th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Hi Maria,
Thank you for stopping in and commenting. I’m glad the article was useful to you. I work with a lot of senior citizens, and for many arthritis is debilitating. Those who exercise regularly, either formally or informally, are able to do much better.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:40 am
Exercises really help for curing your arthritis.My grandmother is exercising every day for half an hour and she is feeling a lot more better.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:58 am
Hi Cara, and well come.
I’m glad to hear your grandmother is exercising and seeing positive results for her arthritis. A few minutes a day of meditation may be of further help to her also, especially if she has rheumatoid arthritis. Meditation has a positive influence on immune system function.