Arthritis is an inflammation in the connective tissues of joints that impedes range of motion and can make the joint painful to use. Depending on the cause of your arthritis, this condition can be temporary or chronic and permanent. The knee is a common place for arthritis to develop, largely because the joint endures a lot of stress over the course of your life. But arthritis can be managed through exercise and natural treatments.
Regular Exercise
Routine exercise can help knee arthritis by using the joint, maintaining its range of motion and strengthening the muscles, tendons and other connective tissues in the joint. Exercise can be achieved several different ways. Although running may provide too much stress and impact to the knee joint, bicycling and elliptical machines can help you work the joint without adding significant amounts of stress. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, water and swimming exercises can also be beneficial to the knee. You may also want to consider physical therapy to keep working the joint and combating your arthritis under the guidance of a professional.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can help improve the condition of your knee arthritis. The first is weight loss, which can occur through regular exercise and a reduced-calorie diet. Losing weight will reduce the weight carried by your body, lowering stress on the knee joint. You should also avoid stairs when possible and use escalators or elevators to ease up on your arthritic knees, and participate in activities that have a low level of impact in the knee joint.
Topical Treatments
Applying heat prior to exercise and ice afterward can help keep your arthritis in check. Ice is used to reduce inflammation and swelling in the joint, while heat helps limber up the tendons, ligaments and other tissue on the knee. Elastic bandages can help hold hot packs or ice in place on the knee, but they also serve as compression materials and can prevent inflammation and swelling from developing in the first place.
Supportive Devices
You can use a variety of devices to alleviate stress placed on the knee joint. Walking with a cane is common, particularly if you only suffer from arthritis in one knee. Knee braces and sleeves can also provide support to the knee and improve stability and knee joint function, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Unloader braces help shift weight and strain to less-affected parts of the knee, while support braces help reduce overall stress on the joint.
