Huron Regional Medical Center

A Joint Effort

IN SENIORS' HEALTH

Do you experience joint pain or swelling that doesn't seem to go away? If so, you may be one of 50 million Americans living with arthritis. While this condition can limit your movement, a regular exercise routine can prevent arthritis from halting the life you love.

Arthritis occurs when a joint becomes inflamed. The inflammation may result from cartilage damage. When cartilage between your joints deteriorates, it creates friction between bones that leads to arthritis symptoms, including inflammation. While your body may develop this condition on its own, it can also develop from an autoimmune disease or infection.

Moving for Your Health

With the pain that accompanies arthritis, it may seem like rest and relaxation would provide relief for the body. However, developing and practicing a regular exercise routine actually helps alleviate arthritis symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults need to participate in 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week along with two weekly muscle-strengthening workouts. These recommendations are also true for people with arthritis.

When you implement a well-balanced exercise routine, the physical benefits can enhance your quality of life by:

  • Increasing energy and mobility to keep you going throughout the day
  • Improving flexibility to prevent joint stiffness
  • Strengthening muscles, thereby relieving tension on your joints
  • Reducing the risk for joint injuries

The Right Stuff

While working with your physician to create a customizable workout routine, keep in mind four essential components of exercise:

  • Balance exercises: When practiced a minimum of three days per week, balance exercises can reduce your risk for falls. Balance activities include Tai Chi or practicing standing on one foot.
  • Endurance exercises: From walking and gardening to swimming and tennis, engage in aerobic exercise three to four times per week.
  • Flexibility exercises: These activities, such as yoga and stretching, should be practiced up to 15 minutes every day.
  • Strengthening exercises: For two of your weekly workouts, spend some time building strong muscles with activities such as push-ups or lifting small weights.


Sources: cdc.gov, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, arthritis.org

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