Arthritis is a degenerative disease that causes joint inflammation, pain, swelling and loss of mobility. Even though it may be difficult and uncomfortable, exercise does not damage arthritic joints, according to the Arthritis Foundation. In fact, exercise can ease arthritis symptoms and improve flexibility and mobility. Always consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine or making changes to an existing program.
Benefits
Over time, arthritis reduces your ability to move freely and without pain. Exercise can restore your mobility while improving your overall health. According to the Arthritis Foundation, exercise helps alleviate joint stiffness and pain, improves endurance and flexibility, and builds muscle around weak and damaged joints to help protect them from injury. Exercise also reduces arthritic inflammation, assists with weight loss, eases depression and improves sleep.
Types
The type of exercise program you begin depends on your overall health and level of pain during exercise. Walking, yoga and cycling are common choices for many people with arthritis, and a combination of strength training and aerobic activity is generally ideal. The Arthritis Foundation recommends a water-based exercise program if you experience pain during other types of exercise. Water exercise causes less stress on your knees, hips and spine than other types of exercise, while still increasing muscle strength and improving range of motion.
Stretching
Stretching is an essential part of any exercise program, and it may be even more important to those with arthritis. Stretching before exercise can improve your range of motion and decrease your risk of injury. A specific type of stretching exercise, called range-of-motion exercise, helps arthritis by moving joints through their maximum range of motion to help stiffness and improve mobility. Range-of-motion exercises are most effective when done every day, according to Susan Bartlett, Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.
Considerations
Because arthritis impairs mobility, patients with arthritis often have reduced levels of overall fitness before beginning an exercise program. This makes it essential that any new exercise routine is introduced gradually and that intensity and complexity increase slowly over time. The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center also recommends avoiding repetitive and rapid movements of arthritic joints to reduce stress and injury risk.
