| The number one source of pain in older people is | | | | This includes people who are perfectly able to be |
| arthritis, a breakdown or wearing away of cartilage, | | | | physically active but choose not to. |
| the smooth shock absorber on the inside of your joint. | | | | It is understandable that many arthritis patients who live |
| A joint is a place where two bones meet such as the | | | | with chronic pain find it hard not to fall into the |
| knee or the elbow and the cartilage allows the bones | | | | sedentary lifestyle trap. Pain causes a person to |
| to smoothly slide over each other. | | | | become less active, and less activity causes further |
| Until recently arthritis was thought of as a disease of | | | | weakness and increased pain. It is a sad vicious |
| old age but it is now known to be a young person's | | | | downward spiral with joint mobility deteriorating to the |
| condition as it starts its relentless progression while you | | | | point of disability with the end result having to rely on |
| are in your 20's and 30's. Because there are no nerve | | | | other people just to perform the necessities of life. |
| endings in cartilage there is no pain in the early stages. | | | | It has long been recognized that exercise can reduce |
| You won't suspect anything is wrong until you are in | | | | pain, improve physical function, improve muscle |
| your 40's or 50's when joint stiffness, reduced range | | | | strength, and improve quality of life for people with |
| of motion and tell tale twinges of pain become | | | | arthritis. With so much to gain, what can possibly |
| apparent. By then the damage has been done and the | | | | account for the low rate of participation among people |
| deterioration is fairly advanced. | | | | with arthritis? |
| Unfortunately, the solutions the medical profession | | | | Those people burdened with chronic health conditions |
| offers are much less than ideal and often the cause of | | | | such as arthritis should consider strength training |
| additional problems. For instance, when people with | | | | exercise to help open the door to better health, |
| arthritis have to rely continually on painkillers, they | | | | greater independence and a more fulfilling life. If you |
| become at risk for developing serious side effects. | | | | are new to exercise see a fitness professional at your |
| Even the best treatments can't do much more than | | | | local gym or fitness center who will design an |
| ease the pain and try to maintain the status quo in | | | | effective set of exercises specifically for your physical |
| what are already degenerating joints until joint | | | | condition. To treat and manage arthritis your exercise |
| replacement becomes necessary. | | | | program needs to include at least 60% strength training |
| Much of this degeneration of our joints is caused by | | | | exercise and be safe, effective and enjoyable |
| lack of vigorous activity. Cartilage does not have a | | | | It may well mean that a person with arthritis is pushed |
| blood supply and relies instead on constant movement | | | | out of their comfort zone, but it is imperative that they |
| to keep fluid moving in and out of the joint to nourish it. | | | | learn to adapt and recognize that they can and must |
| This requires plenty of joint movement and to move a | | | | remain active. |
| joint one has to move the body. The benefits of a | | | | Try to see your health problem as a valid reason for |
| balanced exercise program as part of a treatment | | | | exercise rather that as a barrier to exercise. Be |
| program for managing arthritis are well known, but a | | | | prepared to develop the skills needed to take control |
| recent survey revealed that 37% of people with | | | | of your health challenge and live a happier and |
| arthritis get no exercise, despite the potential benefits. | | | | healthier life. |