Osteoarthritis Exercise Guidelines
Friday, September 9, 2022
Can osteoarthritis stop progressing?
Osteoarthritis is a common, long-term condition that affects both older and younger people with persistent pain and problems moving whole joints, such as hip, knee, hands and feet. All osteoarthritis guidelines recommend exercise to manage symptoms, and slow the progression of, osteoarthritis; let’s find out why (and how!).
Can you improve osteoarthritis with exercise?
Yes! Exercise has been proven to:
• Reduce pain with fewer side effects than medication
• Keep muscles strong
• Help to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle
• Improve joint mobility to protect joints
• Improve balance
• Improve ability to do daily tasks
• Improve wellbeing, sleep and mood
What exercise is good for osteoarthritis?
It’s important to speak to a professional who will assess any concerns or other health conditions that may affect exercise prescription.
Then, start slowly with an exercise that can be easily incorporated into daily life, that is achievable and interesting, so that you will stick to the plan. Do you like to walk in your local area; do you prefer a group class; do you prefer a piece of gym equipment set up in your home? Activity should increase gradually. An Exercise Physiologist is specifically trained in creating individual exercise prescription for osteoarthritis treatment.
The best is a combination of strengthening and aerobic exercises.
1 Strengthening exercises include resistance or weights training or yoga
2 Aerobic exercises include walking, swimming, cycling, elliptical machine, water aerobics, tai chi
Please get in touch for more advice, whether you are a doctor who wants to prescribe exercise as medicine, or if you want a professional to design, guide and supervise your exercise regime to manage, treat, and slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
