Exercise and Arthritis.
Last updated Friday, April 08, 2005
IntroductionPart of a treatment program Exercise is good for almost everyone!
For many years, it was thought that people with arthritis should not exercise because it would damage their joints.
Now, doctors know that when the arthritis is under control, people with
arthritis can improve their health and fitness through exercise,
without hurting their joints.
Exercising for fitness is as important for people with arthritis as
for anyone else. It can give you more energy, help you sleep better,
control your weight, make your heart stronger, make your bones and
muscles stronger, decrease depression, decrease fatigue, improve your
self-esteem and sense of well-being, and give you time to socialize
with friends.
If you have arthritis, you have more reasons to exercise:
- to keep your joints from becoming too stiff
- to keep the muscles around your joints strong
- to keep bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy
- to improve your overall fitness
Along with medicines, rest, and other parts of your treatment
program, regular exercise can help keep your joints in working order so
you can continue your daily activities. It may also help prevent
further joint damage.
What happens without exercise? If your joints hurt, you may not feel like exercising. But without
exercise, your joints can become even more stiff and painful. This
happens because exercise actually keeps your bones, muscles, and joints
healthy.
Because you have arthritis, it is important to keep your muscles as
strong as possible. The stronger the muscles and tissues are around
your joints, the better they will be able to support and protect those
joints--even those that are weak and damaged from arthritis. If you
don't exercise, your muscles become smaller and weaker, and your bones
can become more brittle.
Many people with arthritis keep their joints in a bent position
because it's more comfortable. If the joints stay in one position for
too long (without movement) they can become stuck in that position. If
this happens, you may even lose the use of those joints. Exercise moves
these joints and helps keep them as flexible as possible.
Exercise also lifts your spirits. If you're in pain, you may feel
depressed. If you feel depressed, you may not feel like exercising. And
without exercise, you feel more pain and depression.
Without exercise, you can get caught in a cycle of pain, depression and inactivity. Types of exercises There are three main types of exercise that can be included in your
exercise program: range-of-motion (flexibility), strengthening, and
fitness.
- Range-of-motion exercises help reduce stiffness and keep your joints flexible.
- Strengthening exercises help maintain or increase muscle strength.
- Fitness exercises help increase your endurance.
These types of exercises are discussed in detail later in this article.
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