Role of Exercise for Arthritis
Today Longevity Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Pymble and Balmain discuss arthritis and how exercise can form part of the treatment for this condition.
Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints and is a common cause of chronic pain in and around the joints, particularly in the elderly. There are six types of arthritis including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and fibromyalgia. OA is a degenerative joint disease that is the most common type of arthritis which can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, joint instability, and muscle weakness [1].
What type of exercise is best?
Exercise has proven beneficial to improving the symptoms of OA.
- Aerobic exercise
- Tai chi
- Weights
- Aquatics
In particular, resistance training has shown to improve muscle strength, pain and walking time in knee OA patients [2].
Adhering to a long-term exercise program is most beneficial for OA and it is advised to conduct supervised exercise sessions at the beginning of your journey.
Myth-buster time!
- “Exercise will damage my joints more” – Myth; exercise can build the joints stronger and reduce inflammation caused by OA.
- “My pain means I shouldn’t move” – Myth; chronic pain is our body’s way of being overprotective. The more you rest, the more protective your body gets, and the more pain you will be in. By moving your joints, you are telling your body that it is safe to exercise and therefore, the pain will eventually reduce.
- “I should just do swimming” – Myth; Swimming is excellent for joint health, however, other types of exercise such as the ones listed above have also proven beneficial for arthritic patients.
References
- Bennell K, Hinman R. A review of the clinical evidence for exercise in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2011;14(1):4-9.
- Lange A, Vanwanseele B, Fiatarone singh M. Strength training for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: A systematic review. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2008;59(10):1488-1494.
Written by Hannah Boardman
