Introduction
Exercise has many benefits. It can lower your risk of heart disease, improve your mood and fight depression, and even make you more likely to live longer. But what about people with osteoarthritis? Does exercise help them? The answer is yes—but only if they’re doing the right kind of exercise. If you have osteoarthritis, here’s what you need to know:
Osteoarthritis is not a disease caused by lack of exercise.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, which means it’s not caused by lack of exercise. In fact, with all the activity we do on a daily basis, especially at work and home (e.g., lifting, carrying groceries, walking up stairs), osteoarthritis is probably more likely to develop as you get older! So let’s put an end to this myth once and for all: osteoarthritis isn’t caused by lack of exercise.
Exercise can help improve mobility but won’t cure osteoarthritis
Exercise can help relieve some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Exercise can help reduce the pain, stiffness and fatigue of osteoarthritis. It can also improve your overall quality of life by helping you sleep better and improving your mood.
And while weight loss is often a goal for people with osteoarthritis, it isn’t the only way to get relief from symptoms like pain, stiffness and fatigue. In fact, studies suggest that exercise may provide similar benefits compared to losing weight—and it’s generally safer than dieting! If you’re diagnosed with osteoarthritis during middle age or later in life (when obesity is common), regular physical activity may help protect against other diseases like diabetes or heart disease as well as improve your ability to perform daily tasks (like walking) over time.*
- Sources: “Exercise for Osteoarthritis.” Arthritis Foundation website; available at: https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-osteoarthritis/treatment/non-drug-treatments/exercise/.
You can reduce pain and stiffness by exercising regularly.
Exercise can help you maintain your mobility.
Exercise can reduce pain and stiffness.
Exercise can improve your balance.
Exercising regularly can also help reduce your risk for other diseases, like diabetes and heart disease.
Exercising regularly can also help reduce your risk for other diseases, like diabetes and heart disease.
But exercise can help you with other ailments too.
- Exercise is beneficial for blood sugar control. Regular aerobic activity helps improve insulin sensitivity, which means your body better handles the sugars in your blood.
- Exercise reduces high blood pressure by strengthening your heart and reducing stress on the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. This decreases stress on those arteries so they don’t have to work as hard to push blood through them, lowering their resistance and improving circulation overall—including to the extremities where most people suffer from arthritis pain (meaning improved mobility).
- Exercise reduces inflammation throughout the body, including joint tissue—and this has been shown in studies of osteoarthritis patients who exercised regularly over one year or more!
Here are some activities you can do to help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
If you have osteoarthritis, there are still plenty of ways to stay active and improve your fitness. Here are some activities you can do to help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
- Start with low-impact activities like walking or water aerobics. These exercises don’t cause as much strain on your joints, so they can be easier on your body and may make it easier for you to get started exercising overall. As you build up strength, consider trying more challenging activities like swimming or cycling—especially if these activities feel comfortable for you!
- If an activity causes pain in your knee joint(s), try changing how the exercise is done (for example: find an elliptical machine that allows for full range of motion). Don’t give up if one form of exercise doesn’t work out—there are many different ways to keep moving while living with pain from OA
People with osteoarthritis should exercise regularly to improve their mobility, reduce pain and lower their risk of other health problems
Exercise isn’t a cure for osteoarthritis, but it can make you feel so much better.
People with osteoarthritis should exercise regularly to improve their mobility, reduce pain and lower their risk of other health problems. It’s also important to be physically active throughout life because:
- Exercise improves your mood and sleep quality. It helps reduce stress, too. If you’re suffering from depression or anxiety, regular exercise may help lift those feelings. And if you have trouble sleeping through the nightand waking up at 4am feeling like a zombieand then needing two cups of coffee just to get through the morningit might be time for some light stretching exercises during your lunch break (or whenever else works for your schedule).
Conclusion
So, we’ve learned that exercise is great for people with osteoarthritis. It can help you stay active and reduce your pain and stiffness. But, before you start exercising any of these exercises or activities, it’s important to talk with your doctor first. They can help make sure that the activity won’t cause more harm than good.