It may seem counterintuitive, but a recent study confirms that people with osteoarthritis can improve mobility and enhance their quality of life with modest levels of exercise.
Although arthritis is a wear-and-tear condition, mild to moderate exercise will not damage your joints. In fact, carried out routinely and carefully, an exercise program can dramatically reduce the risk of osteoarthritis by strengthening the muscles that support weight-bearing joints. Of course, exercise will also help with weight loss, which in itself will reduce your risk of arthritis.
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And what if you already have osteoarthritis? A study reported in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism (Volume 53, page 879) indicates that even modest physical activity can preserve mobility in people already diagnosed with arthritis.
For many people with arthritis, the idea of starting an exercise program can be intimidating. But the study has found that even small amounts of physical activity can help preserve mobility and the ability to carry out daily tasks.
The researchers analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The HRS has monitored the health status of more than 3,500 men and women with arthritis who were ages 53–63 in 1994. Participants were categorized into three groups according to how well their physical activity level met national recommendations: Recommended group (30 minutes per day of moderate activity or 20 minutes of vigorous activity), insufficient group (some exercise but not the recommended amount), and inactive group (no regular activity).
The good news: Compared with inactivity, physical activity at the recommended -- and even at insufficient -- levels was equally protective against functional decline or disability. Both reduced the risk by about 40%. Functional ability refers to successful performance of daily tasks such as walking a short distance, climbing stairs, bathing, and preparing meals. Study participants who engaged in the most physical activity actually achieved modest improvements in their functional status over the several years of the study.
