Osteoarthritis: Exercising With Arthritis

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Exercise can help keep your joints and muscles from getting stiff and weak. And it will help you feel better and help you stay at a healthy weight. Weak muscles and extra weight can put added stress on your joints and can cause your arthritis to get worse faster.

Exercising won't "wear out" a damaged joint. But if your joint is very loose or doesn't line up the way it's supposed to, some kinds of exercise may not work well or may even make your arthritis worse. Your doctor or physical therapist can help you find an exercise that is best for you.

Exercises that stretch the muscles can help prevent stiffness and injury. Exercises that strengthen the muscles and ligaments around a joint can help protect and reduce stress on the joint. For example, stronger thigh muscles can help reduce stress on the knees and hips.

Several studies show that exercise can help to:

  • Improve how well the hip and knee joints work and move.
  • Improve how well a person with knee arthritis can move, and may delay or prevent the need for surgery.
  • Improve posture and balance in older adults with arthritis, which may help prevent falls.

Motivation to exercise

Sometimes it's hard to get motivated to exercise, even though we know how good it is for us to do. Here are some ways to get started and stay active:

  • Finda friend to exercise with you, or join a support group. People are more likely to stay with their exercise program if they exercise with a friend. And people with arthritis who attend classes or support groups have less pain and depression and have joints that work better than people who don't join a class or support group.1
  • Try a class at your local health club or with your local arthritis chapter that is designed for people with arthritis. People who take part in an exercise class and who also exercise at home have less pain and feel better. And they are more likely to keep doing their exercise even after the class ends.2
  • Record your efforts. Some people are motivated by seeing their progress written down.
  • Reward your efforts. When you reach a step toward your goal, reward yourself by doing a special activity or buying something.

You don't have to spend a lot of money at a health club or on equipment to exercise. You can do many exercises, such as walking, almost anywhere at no cost. At a local health club such as the YMCA, you can enroll in a class (rather than pay for a complete membership) that doesn't cost a lot and is designed for people with arthritis.

Test Your Knowledge

If you have arthritis, exercising will further damage your joints.

True

If you have arthritis, exercising is very unlikely to further damage your joints. In fact, exercising may prevent further damage to your joints by increasing your strength and preventing joint stiffness and pain.

False

If you have arthritis, exercising is very unlikely to further damage your joints. In fact, exercising may prevent further damage to your joints by increasing your strength and preventing joint stiffness and pain.

Continue to How? - Learn the steps involved in taking action. How to exercise if you have osteoarthritis
Return to Click here to view an Actionset. Osteoarthritis: Exercising With Arthritis

By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: April 8, 2011
Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
David A. Fleckenstein, MPT - Physical Therapy

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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