I've been told exercise is the best medicine for my arthritis. How can this be true? Isn't exercise going to make my joint symptoms worse?
It's true that exercise helps reduce pain and swelling caused by osteoarthritis (OA). How this works remains a topic of much debate in the scientific world. One theory is that exercise increases the strength of the muscles around a joint. This in turn helps take the load off the joint.
Exercise may also fine-tune the sensors and receptors in the joint. By doing so, coordination is improved and the joint moves in better balance during walking and other weight-bearing activities.
Studies show it doesn't matter what kind of exercise is done, aerobic exercise and resistance training both result in decreased pain, improved function, and increased activity. X-rays taken before and after exercise did NOT show any worse changes in the joint.
Finally, since being overweight adds an increased load to the joints, weight loss is always advised. Exercise can help with this part of the management program, too.
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