Exercise: Just What the Doctor Ordered for Arthritis Pain
Exercise: Just What the Doctor Ordered for Arthritis Pain
The take-home message of a recent, large study on arthritis published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism: “Stay active.” It suggests that physical inactivity could double an arthritis sufferer’s risk of being unable to do everyday tasks, such as dressing, eating, bathing, and cooking.
About two out of three of the participants did not engage in regular vigorous exercise. This lack of activity, the authors concluded, contributed to their decline more than any other single factor. In contrast, people who engaged in regular vigorous exercise, no matter how well they functioned at the start of the study, were least likely to lose functional abilities. The authors counted as vigorous exercise activities such as sports and heavy housework performed at least three times a week.
Here are some other recent findings:
- Many studies have found that exercise helps people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis boost their flexibility, physical function, aerobic capacity, and strength.
- An eight-week exercise program decreased stiffness and reduced pain in older people with knee or hip osteoarthritis. The program included aerobic walking, strength training, range-of-motion exercises, and group discussions.
- A review of several studies reported that aerobic walking and quadriceps-strengthening exercises, such as squatting, can lessen pain and disability among women and men with knee osteoarthritis. What kind of exercise is best?
Experts recommend swimming, fast walking, table tennis, low-impact aerobics, dancing, and bike riding. Try to avoid activities such as running, high-impact aerobics, and contact sports. These can cause injury and worsen arthritic pain.
Fact
Studies have found the lowest risks for breast cancer in women who stay the most active. A recent article in the journal The Oncologist suggests that by exercising three to four hours per week, a woman might reduce her risk for breast cancer by 30 to 40%.
The editorial content for this article was taken from the print version of Regarding Women. Click here to sign up for future editions of Regarding Women.
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