Arthritis & Allergy

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Exercise and Arthritis

The treatment of arthritis should include of a comprehensive exercise regimen in order to increase flexibility of the affected joints and to provide pain relief. In addition, exercise can help relieve stress, ensuring better sleep at night and giving them more energy during the day.

During exercise, the motion nourishes the joint by squeezing synovial fluid in and out of the joint space, delivering nourishment to the cartilage, and getting rid of waste products. Without motion, this vital exchange cannot take place, and therefore the joints become mal-nourished.

The misconception that changes within some joints occur mostly because of the disease process is quite interesting. In fact, joint changes can be a result of a lack of exercise or immobility. A joint that is immobilized initiates a series of changes resulting in joint damage, muscle atrophy and tendon wasting.

There are three types of exercise:

1. Aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, cycling builds stamina and boosts cardiovascular fitness. Walking, a popular aerobic exercise, can be easily adapted to your level of fitness by adjusting the speed and duration of the activity. Over time, performing regular aerobic exercise will increase your general level of fitness and endurance. Also, pain and stiffness can be relieved because of the release of endorphins and the increase of blood flow to the affected joints.

2. Stretching and range of motion exercise maintains healthy ligaments, muscles, joints and tendons. For best results, try stretching, particularly the affected joints, to the fullest extent possible for at least 15 minutes a day.

3. Strengthening exercise, such as light weight lifting can help prevent muscle atrophy and build muscle to give joints strong support.

As with any new regimen, you will want to start out slow and gradual. Focus on the joints that hurt, function poorly or appear to be affected by your arthritis.

You are your best exercise expert, because only you can judge how difficult, painful, or tiring a maneuver can be. With time, you will begin to feel improvement in your flexibility and joint pain, but only you will know when it is right to make changes to your individual regimen.

By Dr. Yong H. Tsai
Published in The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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