If you are in a "flare-up episode of osteoarthritis", that is to say when a joint is hot and swollen and more painful than usual it is recommended to rest the joint. This means for a knee or hip, for example, not putting weight on the affected side but to use crutches for walking during the painful period.
The most common joints affected are knees, hips, spine, and hands. The pain of osteoarthritis increases with overuse and improves with rest.
In fact, exercise is considered the most effective, non-drug treatment for reducing pain and improving movement in patients with osteoarthritis.
Adults with arthritis should aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, like cycling at 10 mph or faster, or an equivalent combination.
With the right support, you can lead a healthy, active life with osteoarthritis. The condition does not necessarily get worse.
Get Physical
Physical activity is the best available treatment for OA. It's also one of the best ways to keep joints healthy in the first place. As little as 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise five times a week helps joints stay limber and strengthens the muscles that support and stabilize your hips and knees.
Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in several ways, and the more you weigh, the greater your risk. Increased weight adds stress to weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees. Also, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints. Joint injuries.
Pushing through pain is not the thing to do. If your joints are hot or swollen, exercise can increase the damage and cause more pain. Remember, arthritis pain and pain from a strenuous workout are not the same. A little soreness a day or two after a workout is OK.
To begin with, patients are encouraged to do about 10–15 minutes of light walking per day and eventually work their way up to 30 minutes per day. You can do one 30-minute walk or several shorter walks throughout the day.
Lack of exercise may contribute directly to osteoarthritis, especially by causing the atrophy of supportive and shock-absorbing muscles, such as those surrounding the knee. The basic components of the exercise prescription are activities that improve flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance.
Everyone needs exercise, but it's especially important for people with arthritis. Exercise increases strength and makes moving easier. Exercise reduces joint pain and helps fight tiredness.
With osteoarthritis, it is best to avoid activities that can stress your joints to minimize further joint inflammation and pain. High-impact activities that can worsen symptoms of osteoarthritis in your hips or knees include: Running. Jumping.
If a person sits too long at their desk all day not only will their joints get stiff but their muscles will shorten. Muscle tightness can also increase stress on the joints which will then in-turn increase the pain in those joints affected by RA or OA.
People with arthritis often experience more severe pain and stiffness first thing in the morning, Dr Christine Haseler, a GP with a special interest in arthritis says: “Joints affected by osteoarthritis often stiffen up in the mornings and can make nights uncomfortable and restless.
While rest is important, if you are living a sedentary lifestyle, meaning you are sitting and resting more than you are being active, you may be seriously affecting the health of your joints and increase your arthritis symptoms.
Massage can help different forms of arthritis in specific ways. For example, if you are living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), massage can improve healthy circulation throughout the arthritic joints, reducing swelling and improving quality of life. Avoid massages on affected joints during an RA flare up, however.
You can start with short, brisk walks, climbing up and down stairs, or riding a stationary bike. As your endurance builds up, go for 30- to 45-minute sessions. Walking, biking, swimming, tai chi, yoga, and water aerobics are all good aerobic exercises for people with osteoarthritis.
What causes OA to progress? Studies reveal individual genetic³ features can increase the risks of developing OA. These features determine how your body produces cartilage and how the bones fit into each other at the joint. These genetic factors can also influence the rate at which your OA progresses.
Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and cannot be cured, but it doesn't necessarily get any worse over time and it can sometimes gradually improve. A number of treatments are also available to reduce the symptoms. Mild symptoms can sometimes be managed with simple measures, including: regular exercise.
Cause of Osteoarthritis
Certain factors may make it more likely for you to develop the disease, including: Aging. Being overweight or obese. History of injury or surgery to a joint.
Over-the-counter NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), taken at the recommended doses, typically relieve osteoarthritis pain. Stronger NSAIDs are available by prescription.