Exercise is good for almost everyone!
For many years it was thought that people with arthritis should not exercise because it would damage their joints. Now doctors know that when the arthritis is under control, people with arthritis can improve their health and fitness through exercise without hurting their joints.
If your joints hurt, you may not feel like exercising. But without exercise, your joints can become even more stiff and painful. This happens because exercise actually keeps your bones muscles and joints healthy.
Because you have arthritis, it is important to keep your muscles as strong as possible. The stronger the muscles and tissues are around your joints, the better they will be able to support and protect those joints–even those that are weak and damaged from arthritis. If you don’t exercise, your muscles become smaller and weaker and your bones can become more brittle.
Many people with arthritis keep their joints in a bent position because it’s more comfortable. If the joints stay in one position for too long (without movement), they can become stuck in that position. If this happens, you may even lose the use of those joints. Exercise moves these joints and helps keep them as flexible as possible.
Exercise also lifts your spirits. If you’re in pain, you may feel depressed. If you feel depressed, you may not feel like exercising. And without exercise, you feel more pain and depression.
Without exercise, you can get caught in a cycle of pain depression and inactivity.
On the other hand, there are some kinds of exercise that are not ideal for patients with certain patterns of arthritis. This article will cover some general recommendations on how patients with arthritis might be able to exercise comfortably and safely.