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Arthritis Is Not Synonymous With Inactivity
Category: Arthritis
Aug 21, 2006
By TARA PATRIQUIN Personal Fitness Column
"All activity should begin with a proper warm-up and should end with range of motion exercises. Post-workout ice therapy of any sore joints is also a good habit to practice."
GETTING OUT OF bed, getting dressed, and walking up and down the stairs of your house: These are all pretty easy parts of your daily routine, right? Now think of someone who has arthritis. These regular tasks can be pretty daunting; then imagine adding expectations of exercise to the list. Still, exercise is crucial in the maintenance and prevention of arthritis.
Arthritis is a disease that attacks the whole body, but most dramatically in the hands and in weight-bearing joints (hips, knees, feet and spine). Some warning signs include general stiffness in the morning or after periods of rest, pain that worsens with joint motion, swelling of the soft tissue, limited mobility and cracking or noisy joints (crepatis).
There are over 100 different conditions that fall under the heading of arthritis, but the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which I mentioned in last week’s discussion on ergonomics. Otherwise known as the "wear-and-tear" arthritis, joint cartilage breaks down sometimes to the point of having bone-on-bone friction.
Bones then lose their shape and lay down more bone in response to the friction. The area thickens and spurs occur that protrude into the joint, causing pain, swelling, reduced mobility and — worst of all — interference with the nerves that are housed by that particular vertebrae. Fortunately, this level of degeneration can be avoided.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, therapy has four goals: easing pain, decreasing inflammation, improving function and lessening joint damage. These are wonderful goals, but why wait until you are diagnosed to achieve them?
A more holistic approach is to look at these goals by way of prevention first. Then, in the unfortunate circumstance that you do become arthritic, work to stop the progression, enhance the repair process and, dare I say it, potentially reverse the process.
A typical treatment plan consists of education, exercise, rest, hot and cold treatments, and joint protection techniques. Two other methods that we hope don’t come in to play are medications and surgery.