Most people don't love trekking to the gym. Add achy, stiff joints to the mix, and it's no wonder many arthritis sufferers aren't getting enough exercise. So how can people with this chronic inflammatory disorder reap the benefits of working out safely and effectively? Read on for our fitness experts' 9 best tips...
When your arthritis flares up, your first instinct may be to take your medication and lie down for a long rest.
But too much inactivity can actually make arthritis pain, stiffness and swelling worse.
"It's important to move your joints when you have arthritis," says Cynthia Ivy, an occupational therapist who works with arthritis patients at Mayo Clinic Arizona in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"Exercise produces synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint," she explains. "It also keeps surrounding muscles and tissues strong, so they support the joint better."
The result? Less pain and, over time, less damage to the joint, Ivy says.
Despite the many benefits of exercises for arthritis, most people with the condition aren't meeting even the minimum requirements for 20 minutes of daily activity, even though they're claiming otherwise.
About 30%-40% of arthritis patients say they get about 20 minutes of exercise each day, according to recent anecdotal surveys.
But a 2011 study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine proves they don't. Researchers used devices to track the activity levels of 1,000 people with knee osteoarthritis. Only 13% of men and 8% of women met the daily minimum.
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