Movement is Key
Arthritis is made up of more than 100 different rheumatic diseases and conditions, the most common of which is osteoarthritis. Other common forms include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia and gout. Common symptoms include pain, aching, stiffness and swelling in or around the joints.
People with arthritis often face barriers to physical activity – such as pain or fear of pain, fear of worsening symptoms or damaging joints, and lack of information on how to exercise safely – that keep them from being physically active. Nearly 44% of adults with arthritis report no leisure-time physical activity (compared with about 36% of adults without arthritis).
Physical activities such as walking, bicycling and swimming have been shown to have significant benefits for people with arthritis, including reducing pain and improving physical function, mental health and quality of life. Weight-control and injury-prevention measures also can lower a person’s risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Talk with your doctor about how you can maintain a healthy weight, and how exercising safely can help prevent joint stiffness and swelling.
-Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Recent Comments