What is Arthritis?
Arthritis indicates joint inflammation that commonly presents in the knee, hip and spine. It is one of the leading causes of disability in the US. The most common symptoms are pain, swelling, decreased range of motion, and muscle weakness.
What Puts Me at Risk?
- Age is the number one risk factor
- Studies show that 100% of people will have cartilage changes by the age of 60 years old; however, only 40% have symptoms.
- Overweight/Obesity is the second leading risk factor
- If you gain 10 pounds, you are placing 40-60 more pounds of pressure on your joint.
- So what does this mean?
- Losing just 5-10 pounds can significantly reduce your pain levels (and may even get rid of your pain).
- Previous trauma to the joint
- Any previous injury puts you at higher risk for developing arthritis later on.
- Under use and overuse of the joint
- Doing too little activity > AT RISK
- Being physically active > WHERE YOU WANT TO BE
- Elite athletes with high repetitive stress > AT RISK
- Is running bad? Depends how much you do.
- A study found that recreational runners (the middle category above) had less risk of developing arthritis than people who did not participate in any physical activity.
Conclusion:
- Exercise is NOT harmful to your arthritis as long as you do the correct amount of it (not too much & not too little)
- Limit the amount of high impact activities and heavy lifting you are doing (jumping, sprinting).
- Cycling, elliptical machines, and walking can be beneficial to the joints.
- By decreasing your weight, you can significantly reduce the stresses placed through your joint which can lead to less pain.
- If your pain is not getting better and is affecting your daily function, ask for help!
Motion is lotion!
