{"id":1245,"date":"2016-08-31T08:03:46","date_gmt":"2016-08-31T08:03:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/assistinghands.com\/hinsdale\/?p=1125"},"modified":"2018-07-20T13:52:33","modified_gmt":"2018-07-20T13:52:33","slug":"research-confirms-exercise-top-prescription-arthritis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/20\/illinois\/hinsdale\/blog\/research-confirms-exercise-top-prescription-arthritis\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Confirms Exercise is Top “Prescription” for Arthritis"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the old days, seniors who were suffering from arthritis were advised to take it easy. Sit down most of the day so as not to stress your joints, well-meaning doctors would say. Sit in a rocking chair for easy, soothing motion, at the most. Rest your joints. If it hurts, don\u2019t do it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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We know now that this was very bad advice. Multiple studies show that inactivity not only raises the risk of arthritis, but also leads to increased joint damage and pain when a person has arthritis. Exercise helps keep the joints lubricated and strengthens the muscles that support the joints. It also helps seniors maintain a healthy weight\u2014one of the most important things we can do to be kind to our joints. According to the Arthritis Foundation, \u201cExercise is the most effective non-drug treatment for reducing pain and improving movement in osteoarthritis.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
How much, and what type, of exercise is best for seniors with arthritis? Researchers from Northwestern University tracked the activity level of a group of people with arthritis. They reported, \u201cAs expected, more time spent in moderate or vigorous activity was associated with lower reports of disabilities, but researchers were pleased to find that greater time spent in light intensity activities also was related to fewer disabilities.\u201d Said lead researcher Prof. Dorothy Dunlap, \u201cWe were delighted to see that more time spent during the day, simply moving your body, even at a light intensity, may reduce disability. Now people with health problems or physical limitations who cannot increase the intensity of their activity have a starting place in the effort to stay independent.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
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Walking is often called the perfect exercise. Reporting on recent research, the American College of Rheumatology said, \u201cWalking an additional 1,000 steps each day was associated with between a 16 percent to 18 percent reduction in incident functional limitation two years later. Walking less than 6,000 steps daily was the best threshold for identifying those who developed functional limitation.\u201d 6,000 steps might sound like a lot, but it\u2019s only about an hour of walking, and can be spread out over the course of a day. \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
But exercising with arthritis isn\u2019t a simple thing. If movement causes some discomfort, it can seem counterintuitive to keep doing it. And, some exercises may be bad for a person with arthritis. This all may lead to uncertainty and anxiety that tempts a person to head right back to that rocking chair.<\/span><\/div>\n
Beginning an arthritis-friendly exercise program<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
The first step is to get a \u201cprescription\u201d for an exercise plan that\u2019s right for a person\u2019s particular type and degree of arthritis from the doctor or physical therapist. This will most likely include low-impact, joint-friendly activities from four main categories:<\/span><\/div>\n