Physical Activity: The Arthritis Pain Reliever

For people with arthritis, low-impact activities at a moderate pace – like walking, swimming, and riding a bicycle – are best. Everyday activities such as dancing, gardening, and washing the car are also good.

Choose an activity that moves large muscle groups, makes you breathe a little harder and your heart beat a little faster. Walking, swimming, and biking are particularly good because they will strengthen your heart and help you control your weight if you do them regularly.

Look in your community to find arthritis-friendly exercise classes

Walking helps to improve energy and heart health.
Swimming puts less stress on your joints and also strengthens your whole body.
Bicycling increases your stamina. With a stationary bike, you can get all the fitness benefits of outdoor riding without the traffic and other outdoor hazards.

Regular moderate physical activity can help you:

Feel less pain.
Move more easily and do more activities.
Feel more energetic and positive.
Keep your muscles, bones, and joints healthy.

So get moving, and keep moving.
After a little while, a regular program of moderate physical activity should make it easier for you to do all kinds of other everyday activities such as carrying groceries and getting in and out of the tub and the car. If you don’t let arthritis stop you now, chances are good it won’t slow you down later in life.

The word arthritis means joint inflammation. It is used to describe more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints and surrounding tissues. Typically, rheumatic conditions are characterized by pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints. The symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly. Treatment for arthritis is focused on pain reduction, minimizing joint damage, and improving or maintaining function and quality of life. In conjunction with medical treatment, self-management of arthritis symptoms is very important.

The Arthritis Foundation Self Help Program and the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, both developed by Dr. Kate Lorig of Stanford University, are effective self-management education programs. These 6-week classes will be offered through the Kenosha County Aging and Disability Resource Center and cooperating organizations this spring and summer. People who have completed these classes report that they have reduced pain, greater flexibility, more confidence and less fatigue.

One important self- management technique is to be physically active. Research has shown that physical activity decreases pain, improves function, and delays disability. Make sure you get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least 3 days a week. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals.

Informational Links: