Why Exercise Is Essential in Managing Arthritis Pain

Waking up with stiff, achy joints and finding no relief through your day can feel like carrying the weight of a thousand pounds. You might not be inclined to be too active, but exercise is a natural and beneficial way to tame achy joints.

Arthritis affects more than 58 million American adults. It causes joint stiffness, swelling and pain. Wear and tear on the joints is the most common cause of arthritis, and it can be a challenge to lead an active lifestyle.

When arthritis pain strikes, exercise is likely the last thing on your mind. Moving painful joints may seem like it would cause even more pain. However, movement is highly beneficial for arthritic joints.

At DFW Spine Joint and Pain in Fort Worth, Texas, our board-certified interventional pain management physician Nikki Fox, DO, is devoted to providing exceptional arthritis care through a blend of nonsurgical therapies. Patients who have arthritis greatly benefit from exercise and physical therapy. Exercise can prevent flare-ups and minimize joint pain.

Exercise eases arthritis

If you have arthritis, regular moderate exercise is one of the best things you can do to ease pain and stiffness and improve your health. Here are some of the ways exercise is beneficial for arthritis:

Maintains mobility and range of motion

Most people who experience arthritis pain reduce their activity level as they try to relieve and prevent pain. However, lack of exercise may contribute to joint stiffness and pain, which further limits joint flexibility and range of motion.

As you get older, your body produces less synovial fluid, a thick liquid that coats your joints. This fluid protects the ends of your bones and reduces friction when your joints move, allowing the bones to glide smoothly. It also feeds your cartilage, which is a tough tissue that protects your bones.

However, you must move your body to keep this dwindling supply of synovial fluid at work coating your joints. If you don't move enough to keep your joints lubricated, you may experience joint stiffness and pain.

Eases inflammation

Exercise naturally limits inflammation. Just 20 minutes of exercise is enough to stimulate the immune system in a way that produces an anti-inflammatory response.

Each time you engage in moderate-intensity exercise, you promote your body’s ability to combat and regulate inflammation. A 20-minute treadmill session stimulates a decrease in the number of inflammatory proteins circulating through the body.

This means you can reap benefits without performing intense exercise for an extended duration.

Improves your muscle strength and endurance

Arthritis increases your chances of breaking a bone in a fall. You can help avoid falls, however, by developing and maintaining strong muscles. Exercising is also a great way to keep your muscles strong.

Furthermore, having strong muscles can relieve stress on your joints. Strengthening the muscles around arthritic joints provides better support and can reduce pain and joint degeneration.

Arthritis treatment

If you have arthritis, Dr. Fox offers you a comprehensive management plan. Every patient has different needs, and your plan is based on your specific case. It may include a combination of physical therapy, lifestyle recommendations, and medication.

Rely on our expertise to help you better manage your arthritis so you hurt less and can live more.

To get started, call our Fort Worth, Texas, office and a helpful team member will assist you in scheduling a visit with Dr. Fox. Another option is to book your request online. Living with less pain is possible!