Many mistakenly believe that exercise will damage arthritic joints or cause further pain and discomfort. That misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. Exercises designed for those with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have been proven effective and beneficial for:
- maintaining normal joint movement
- increasing muscle flexibility and strength
- maintaining/decreasing weight which reduces pressure on the joints
- keeping bones and cartilage tissue strong and healthy
- improving cardiovascular fitness
- reducing stress, anxiety and depression
- improve sleep and day-to-day functioning
Speaking with your doctor, physical therapist and/or certified fitness professional will be the best place to start in order to create a program specific to you as an individual taking into consideration the type of arthritis you have and the severity of it. The Arthritis Foundation also offers courses through their website designed especially for those dealing with arthritis such as the People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) and the Arthritis Self Help Course (ASHC). (www.arthritis.org)
The Arthritis Foundation provides information on water-based exercise, which is not only a gentle and safe way to exercise your joints and muscles, but also a way to relieve arthritic pain and stiffness. There are resources for other types of exercise such as walking, flexibility training, range of motion exercises and endurance training.
Other reliable and informative resources include the American Council on Exercise, Cleveland Clinic and The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.
American Council on Exercise: www.acefitness.org
Arthritis Foundation: www.arthritis.org
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center: www.hopkins-arthritis.org
Cleveland Clinic: www.arthritis-advisor.com
American College of Rheumatology: www.rheumatology.org
WebMD: www.webmd.com
