| Arthritis has been around forever but for the last | | | | much sooner, shrinking and stiffening, reducing |
| 100 years doctors believed the best treatment | | | | joint mobility and causing pain. You can count on |
| for painful joints was rest and the message they | | | | double the decline in physical function without |
| gave sufferers was that inflamed joints would | | | | proper strengthening exercise and this leads to |
| become more inflamed with activity. Fortunately | | | | decreased ability to perform the basic functional |
| current research acknowledges the multitude of | | | | tasks of daily living. |
| health benefits of proper exercise for arthritis | | | | You cannot grow new cartilage to replace the |
| sufferers. | | | | cartilage that has been eroded away, but the |
| People who are sedentary are much more prone | | | | good news is that you can rebuild muscle tissue |
| to developing bone and joint problems like | | | | and thereby rebuild the body's shock absorber |
| osteoporosis and arthritis. Not enough vigorous | | | | system A strength training program performed |
| activity leads to loss of muscle tone and body | | | | 2-3 times each week with a bit of effort put into |
| flexibility. Without strong muscles pulling on the | | | | it is all it takes to get those muscles toned back |
| bones they are attached to they weaken along | | | | up. They can then resume their job of supporting |
| with the joints that separate the bones to allow | | | | the bones of the skeleton so body parts like the |
| for movement. | | | | joints do not have to take more load then they |
| Weakened muscles are less able to properly do | | | | are designed for. |
| their job of strengthening, protecting and | | | | Although painful joints usually do not become a |
| cushioning joints so they become stiff and painful | | | | problem till a person gets closer to mid- life the |
| and more at risk of everyday injuries and | | | | damage starts in the 30's and 40's or even |
| accidents. When people have arthritis it hurts to | | | | younger. Arthritis starts long before pain emerges |
| move, so they often limit their movement but | | | | so the time to practice prevention with a proper |
| inactivity can be crippling - literally - for people | | | | strength training program is right throughout the |
| with this disease. | | | | adult years. |
| Pain leads to inactivity, more muscle weakness | | | | Studies show that eight out of the adults do not |
| and joint damage followed by more pain, and the | | | | do enough muscle strengthening exercise and our |
| cycle continues. Cartilage that allows the joint | | | | modern lifestyles allow little opportunity for most |
| surfaces to slide smoothly over each other do | | | | of us to get much if any. The only way to make |
| not have a blood supply and instead rely on fluid | | | | sure we get enough is with an intentional exercise |
| moving in and out of the joint to nourish, lubricate | | | | program so we can prevent and even reverse |
| and take away waste. This requires joint | | | | negative changes to muscles, bones and joints |
| movement and some joint stress such as | | | | through disuse. It is never too late to start living |
| supporting a load. | | | | an active lifestyle and you will never ever regret |
| Without strong toned muscles, cartilage wears out | | | | it. |