Arthritis and Exercise – Some Pain, But Much Gain

If you have arthritis and you know that moving about is painful, it’s easy to slip into a lethargic mode. And that’s a big mistake, if you’ve been told to exercise. Many studies have shown that aerobic and resistance training can reduce pain, delay disability, and improve physical function, quality of life, and muscle strength, in people with arthritis. However, one must admit that start-up pain is a significant barrier to actually fulfilling an exercise program.

The School of Public Health in South Carolina has conducted 68 interviews with patients to find out why some of them fight through this pain barrier and work out, while others give up before they start.

Pain was recognized as a barrier by all the interviewed patients, but those who were classified as ‘exercisers’ made adaptations and worked through the pain. All participants also complained that there was a lack of programs specifically tailored to arthritics.

Exercisers spoke positively about the benefits of exercise, while non-exercisers said they’d been told there would be no benefits to exercise.

These last two points show that some re-orientation of attitudes by health professionals may improve the number of exercisers vs. non-exercisers. This will also increase the number of arthritis victims who experience the benefits outlined above – a good thing.