Arthritis is a very common condition that can affect people of all ages, including children, causing pain and inflammation in the joints. Millions of people suffer from arthritis in the UK and it can be very difficult to live with the condition, with even simple everyday tasks painful and hard to carry out.
However, there are many ways in which symptoms can be eased to help you continue living a healthy lifestyle, including exercise.
It is perhaps understandable to worry that exercising if you do have arthritis could cause more harm to the joints and cause you more pain, but there’s a growing body of research that suggests exercise can be particularly beneficial to those with the condition, helping to reduce pain and improve movement and mobility.
A recent report published in the Geriatric Nursing journal, for example, found that following a comprehensive exercise programme that includes stretching, aerobics, muscle strengthening and range-of-motion work for joints could be beneficial.
Regular exercise is also considered to be an important therapeutic intervention for all different types of arthritis, helping to prevent deconditioning of the muscles while keeping joints stable and improving function and flexibility.
Low-impact exercise could be particularly beneficial, so as not to put additional pressure and stress on joints. This could include brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing and even a bit of gardening. The key, however, is to start off slow and build up the intensity so you can see how your body responds and so you can give it time to recover as necessary.
Are you looking for a physiotherapist in Maidenhead at the moment? Get in touch with the Clear Physio team today to see how we can help.