How can exercise help treat pain caused by Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition which causes pain and stiffness in joints. Common types include Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Osteoarthritis is generally caused by ‘wear and tear’ of the joints. This can happen as we age, or can be related to a change in the joint movement caused by a trauma or an accident. Osteoarthritis commonly affects larger weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which causes pain and inflammation of the joints. This form of the condition commonly affects smaller joints, such as the joints of the wrists, fingers and feet. Many other less common types of arthritis also exist.It is a painful condition and pain control is one of the main aims of treatment. Exercise can be helpful for this pain in many ways:

• With arthritis the muscles surrounding the joint can become weak and this can lead to an increased load on the affected joint. Improving muscle activation around the affected joint can reduce the load on a painful joint and therefore reduce pain
• Stiffness, especially in the morning, is a big problem for sufferers. Range of movement exercises, aimed to improve movement in a joint can help to ease the pain and discomfort associated with joint stiffness
• Functional activities such as stair climbing and getting up from sitting can become difficult. Exercises to improve these functional movements can help reduce pain with these activities.

For more information on how exercise can help reduce your pain from arthritis, contact us at our Dublin 4 clinic.