Arthritis literally means "joint inflammation," but
generally refers to the more than 100 rheumatic diseases and related conditions
that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints and connective
tissues. Affecting one in every seven Americans of all ages, arthritis also can
deteriorate the joints' support systems, including muscles, tendons, ligaments
and other parts of the body.
While medication may be part of a recommended treatment plan for
people with arthritis, a tailored exercise program can be beneficial to
management of pain and fatigue and to preserve joint structure and function.
Once you know what type of arthritis you have and understand what symptoms you
can expect, you and your physician or physical therapist can develop a balanced
program of physical activity to reduce the damaging affects of arthritis and
promote overall good health.
Arthritis and exercise
Stiffness,
pain and swelling associated with arthritis can severely reduce the range of
motion in joints (the normal distance joints can move in certain directions).
Avoiding physical activity because of pain or discomfort also can lead to
significant muscle loss and excessive weight gain. Exercise, as part of a
comprehensive arthritis treatment plan, can improve joint mobility, muscle
strength, overall physical conditioning and help to maintain a healthy weight.
A tailored program that includes a balance of three types of
exercises - range-of-motion, strengthening and endurance exercises - can relieve
the symptoms of arthritis and protect joints from further damage. Exercise also
may:
-
Help maintain normal joint movement
- Increase muscle flexibility and strength
- Help maintain weight to reduce pressure on joints
- Help keep bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy
- Improve endurance and cardiovascular fitness
Range-of-motion exercises
To
help relieve pain, people with arthritis often keep affected joints bent -
especially in the knees, hands and fingers - because it's more comfortable
during the early stages of arthritis. While this may temporarily relieve
discomfort, holding a joint in the same position for too long can cause
permanent loss of mobility and hinder daily activities.
Range-of-motion exercises (also called stretching or flexibility
exercises) help maintain normal joint function by increasing and preserving
joint mobility and flexibility. In this group of exercises, affected joints are
conditioned by gently straightening and bending the joints in a controlled
manner as far as they comfortably will go. During the course of a
range-of-motion exercise program, the joints are stretched progressively farther
(maintaining comfort levels) until normal or near-normal range is achieved and
maintained.