Continuing Medical Education: Understanding Osteoarthritis.

Edited By: Gregory C. Gardner, M.D.
Last updated Friday, January 07, 2005

Exercise and osteoarthritis

Is exercise important for a person with osteoarthritis?

Can range of motion exercises or isometrics be prescribed for a person with arthritis?

1. Instruction - I find that many of the joint specific exercises can be taught in the office or with a single visit to a physical therapist with perhaps a monitoring follow up visit. It is important to emphasize the patient's role in this therapy and one can even resort to giving the patient a personal prescription for the therapy. The importance of maintaining strong peri-joint musculature cannot be over emphasized!
2. Review - At each visit, review the patient's program and encourage continued exercise and increase in exercise intensity if necessary.

Can aerobic conditioning be prescribed for a person with osteoarthritis?

1. Instruction - This can be taught in a similar way to the ROM/Isometric exercise program. I "offer" the patient swimming, walking, or exercise bicycle as options. Water aerobics has the advantage of reducing impact to affected weight bearing joints and if the patient has paid for a program they may be more likely to go! The Arthritis Foundation can be contacted for locations of water programs that may be specifically designed for people with arthritis. It is best if aerobic conditioning be done 2-3 times per week and be progressive. Have the patient start off slow and increase the activity gradually. Aerobic conditioning has been shown to improve such things as the overall level of physicalactivity, reduce pain scores, and reduce levels of anxiety and depression associated with osteoarthritis.
2. Review - At each visit the patients program should be reviewed and should be encouraged to continue the activity. Studies have not shown any exacerbation of joint pain from such programs.

Surgery for arthritis at the University of Washington

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