Exercise for Arthritis: Prevent the Decline
Researchers at Northwestern University have laid to rest the myth that people with arthritis shouldn’t exercise. Just the opposite turns out to be true: Older people with arthritis who exercise are less likely to develop physical limitations that hamper their daily lives.
Arthritis is among the leading causes of functional decline, which refers to difficulties with such everyday activities as shopping, bathing, dressing, preparing meals and walking short distances. According to Dorothy D. Dunlop, PhD, the study’s lead author, the new findings suggest that regular vigorous exercise could help stave off this decline in arthritis sufferers.
It is true that older arthritis patients may have to get 20-30 minutes of exertion in small bursts, rather than all at once. But weaving activity into your daily routine can still be effective, says Dunlop. Walking for an errand instead of taking the car, climbing stairs and even gardening can all be part of a plan to keep active. Before launching any exercise program, she adds, be sure to consult your physician.
