Arthritis Physical Activity
People with arthritis benefit from moving their
joints on a daily basis. There are numerous benefits
to increased physical activity for a person with
arthritis. The following are just a few:
- Increased or maintained bone and muscle strength
- Improved or maintained posture, balance and
coordination
- Increased or maintained energy
- Increased or maintained ability to perform
activities of daily living
- Improved quality of sleep
- Weight control
- Increased or maintained cardiovascular health
- Improvement in self-esteem and decrease in
depression
Another benefit of physical activity for a
person with arthritis to note:
Physical activity, with proper warm up and cool
down, actually nourishes the cartilage between
joints. This fact dispels the myth that physical
activity can cause more damage to the joint. More
damage is actually done to the joint by not exercising
it because then it degenerates and becomes stiff,
often leading to more inflammation.
 Physical Activity helps to break
the "Chronic
Pain Cycle."
As noted in the Arthritis Foundation's
People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) Leaders
Manual (1999, 1993): ".when movement of a body part
leads to pain, there is a tendency to stop moving
that joint. Muscle spasms also can occur, which further
tighten muscles and cause pain. Continued disuse
of a joint may cause stiffness, eventual joint
contracture (shortening of muscles and ligaments),
and other deformities, thus making less movement
possible. This loss of motion can lead to loss
of function and disability, resulting in the loss
of self-esteem and withdrawal from social activities.
Depression and stress can result, which increases
muscle tension and causes more pain. The additional
pain can increase anxiety. And more anxiety = more
tension = more pain and so on through the cycle."
For
more information about physical activity programs,
please contact Cindy Winters, KDHE Arthritis
Program Coordinator, at 785-296-8150 or cwinters@kdhe.state.ks.us
To
go to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Arthritis Program Site, click here.
To visit the CDC arthritis home page,
click here.
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