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Managing arthritis
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Best way to deal with arthritis is to keep exercising.
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ARTHRITIS CAUSES suffering and decreases mobility, and it gets in the way of keeping healthy and being independent. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are different conditions with very different aetiologies, but both cause pain and joint stiffness, restrict movement and lower the quality of life. The first thing that arthritis sufferers hear from their doctors is: "Exercise, Exercise, Exercise", which is a long way from the "take it easy" advice they expect in times of physical pain. Pain and joint stiffness certainly place limits on the kinds of activity one can indulge in, and it seems cruel to ask someone who finds it too painful to climb a flight of stairs or even lift a glass of water to exercise, but it is also important to keep exercising within these limits. Here's why: Exercise helps maintain flexibility, strength and endurance. The body releases its own painkillers in response to the effort and pain, and over the long term improves its capacity to withstand pain. Before you embark on any fitness activity, ask your doctor for advice on what exercises are best for your particular condition. Ask about footwear, medication, warning signs you should watch out for in your own body, diet, etc. In general, water sports are the best for arthritis sufferers. The buoyancy of the body in water keeps weight off the weight-bearing joints and permits a wider range of movement. Apart from swimming and water aerobics, walking and jogging in chest-deep water are some of the best exercises for arthritis. Outside the swimming pool, the best low-impact exercises are walking and cycling on a stationary bike. Weight-training occupies a special place in the physiotherapy of arthritis. Strengthening the muscles around the troublesome joints takes most of the weight off the inflamed bone and gristle. Conversely, long spells of inactivity cause the muscles around a joint to atrophy: this makes movement more difficult and painful because there is little force acting to keep inflamed cartilage and bone rubbing against each other.
So don't throw away that gym membership card yet! Most importantly, focus on enjoyable hobbies that also involve physical activity - gardening, for example. If exercising for 45 minutes at a stretch is too painful or taxing, divide the time up into three 15 minutes sessions over a 24-hour period. It doesn't matter if you are using a wheel chair, you still have the capability to exercise intensely enough to make a difference to your health.
RAJIV. M
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