Many people with arthritis wonder if it is okay to exercise. The short answer is absolutely. Studies have shown that exercise helps people with arthritis in many ways. For people with arthritis, exercise has been shown to:
- Reduce joint pain and stiffness
- Increase flexibility and muscle strength
- Improve cardiac fitness and endurance
- Help with weight reduction
- Contribute to an improved sense of well-being.
But everyone is a little different, so the amount and form of arthritis exercises recommended for each individual can vary based on:
- Which joints are involved
- The amount of inflammation
- How stable the joints are
- Whether a joint replacement procedure has been done.
Three types of exercise are best if you have arthritis:
- Range-of-motion exercises, such as dancing. These exercises relieve stiffness, keep you flexible, and help you keep moving your joints.
- Strengthening exercises, such as weight training. These exercises will keep or add to muscle strength. Strong muscles support and protect your joints.
- Aerobic or endurance exercises, like bicycle riding. These exercises make your heart and arteries healthier, help prevent weight gain, and improve the overall working of your body. Aerobic exercise also may lessen swelling in some joints.
(Click Arthritis and Exercise for more information, including how to start an exercise program and how much exercise is too much.)
Advice on Preventing Arthritis
The steps for effective arthritis prevention are:
- Knowing your arthritis risk factors (see Arthritis Risk Factors)
- Monitoring your health and making lifestyle changes.
But will these steps prevent arthritis? The simple answer is probably not. This is because there are so many
types of arthritis and each type can have different causes, symptoms, and treatments. There are also different ways to prevent each type of arthritis.
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