| If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, you probably | | | | out, taking care to work your affected joints without |
| already know that it's a battle you cannot win. Arthritis | | | | overworking them. Instead of running, you could walk |
| is a progressive condition: once your joints start to feel | | | | fast. This will keep the strain on your joints at a |
| the effect, they'll probably be feeling it indefinitely. This | | | | manageable level. The benefits of exercising when |
| is because arthritis is not an ordinary disease brought | | | | you are affected by arthritis are twofold: by working |
| on by a virus or an infection. Instead, arthritis is simply | | | | the inflamed joints you ease the long-term pain felt by |
| the name given to the condition where a person's | | | | those joints, and exercise helps you lose weight that |
| joints are simply wearing out and inflamed. The only | | | | your joints are working hard to support. |
| good news is, if you've been diagnosed early enough, | | | | Another key factor in keeping arthritis pains at bay is |
| you can head off the effects of arthritis and keep | | | | your diet, particularly if you are overweight. Keep in |
| them at a minimal. | | | | mind that this applies mainly to osteoarthritis, which is |
| You are most likely to develop arthritis if your joints | | | | the most common form of arthritis. The other major |
| are under constant strain, for one reason or another. | | | | type, rheumatoid arthritis, will not be affected by diet. |
| People who are very athletic are at risk, as are people | | | | Obesity is a serious risk factor for osteoarthritis |
| who are overweight. For those in their 30s and 40s, it | | | | because when the human body becomes too heavy |
| may be a good idea to ask your doctor if you're at | | | | for its own frame, it is the bones and joints that feel |
| risk for arthritis. The sooner you know the better. If | | | | the strain over the long term. If you are anywhere |
| you're at risk or if you've been diagnosed, the best | | | | from slightly overweight to obese, you will need to |
| thing you can do is to pick up a light schedule of | | | | consider weight loss as a key strategy in your fight |
| exercise. Be sure to stretch your joints and be easy | | | | against the onset of arthritis. |
| on them. It's also important to realize that exercising | | | | Arthritis is an unfortunate condition with no cure. It is not |
| your inflamed joints will be painful at first, but it goes a | | | | yet medically feasible to have your affected joints |
| long way toward keeping those joints healthy in the | | | | surgically replaced, so the best thing you can do is be |
| future. | | | | honest with yourself and your doctor when you think |
| You will need to take it easy when you exercise, and | | | | you feel the onset of arthritis occurring. Have a doctor |
| place an emphasis on low-impact activities. If you are | | | | check you out and get diagnosed early, so you can |
| in the early stages of arthritis, you should not be | | | | head off the effects. |
| running or jogging. Be sure to stretch before working | | | | |