This October 3rd I will be representing GCMC, along with my father and Matt, at the Women's Health Summit for the Arthritis Foundation. The topic we will be presenting is the importance of exercise with Arthritis. It almost would seem counter-intuitive that someone with a degenerative or inflamed joint should be moving that joint freely, but it is in fact true. And not just true, but imperative. The subject touched me and I feel it is important to help shed light on the facts.
Studies have shown that despite the importance of exercise, 31% of those with arthritis live completely sedentary lives. Those that were athletic before the arthritis tend to remain active after the diagnoses. They seem to have better handle on how to exercise and how to modify an exercise due to pain. However, those that were not athletic to begin with tend to be fearful of exercise, especially if they attempt exercise and experience an copeless amount of pain.
There are over 100 types of arthritis, the most common being osteoarthritis followed by rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA)is the leading cause of disability, affecting more than 22 million adults in the United States. There is no cure; however, there is a lot you can do to slow down the progression and manage the pain. I have a busy class and work schedule, so in the interest of time I will list the evidence supporting exercise and provide a link to the Arthritis Foundation for further information on how to be healthy with arthritis. Besides, the journals could not be any more to the point.
Harvard's Women's Health Watch stated that regular exercise strengthens muscles and improves flexibility and balance. It not only eases pain and stiffness but improves overall health. New research suggests that older women may be able to prevent OA pain by getting as little as one to two hours of moderately intense exercise per week.
The American Journal of Health and Behavior stated that, "regular exercise by people with arthritis delays disability; improves physical function; improves quality of life, mental health, aerobic capacity and muscle strength; promotes functional independence; and reduces pain." (Am J Health Behav. 2006;30(6):731-744)
The Journal of Rheumatology printed, "it is now established that well-designed physical exercise programs promote prolonged improvements without inducing harmful effects on disease activity and joint damage” Rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and physical exercise: a systematic review." (Rheumatology 2008;47:239-248)
Archives of Internal Medicine stated that, “Aerobic and resistance exercise may reduce the incidence of ADL disability in older persons with knee OA. Our study suggests that a physical exercise program may be an effective strategy for increasing the active life expectancy of older adults.”(Arch Intern Med. 2001 (161). 2309-2316)
Link for Arthritis Foundation
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Treatment for osteoarthritis is a combination of exercise, weight and stress management, hot and cold treatments and medication. Every situation is different. What works for some may not work for others even if the disease is in the same joint. It is a matter of trial and error to see what is most effective for you.
ReplyDeleteAny osteoarthritis treatment plan is patient specific. What works for one person may not work for another even if the same joint is affected. Treatment needs to be a combination of weight control, medication (either prescription, over the counter or natural), hot and cold treatments and stress management. It is a matter of trial and error to see what is most effective for you particular situation.
Great comment. Exercise is definitely not the sole solution. My only point is that hot and cold treatments and medication are all forms of passive pain management. While important, they do not address the continual wear and tear of the tissues. An analogy might be Novocain. You will feel no pain as you bite off your tongue. Meaning, you will feel less pain as you degrade your joints but you still need to address the quality of the movements so that they can slow down the degeneration.
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