The best exercises for people with painful arthritis

From dianeatwood.com

Arthritis. The word means inflamed joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It’s usually caused by wear and tear on the cartilage‚ the part of the joint that provides a cushion between the ends of the bones. When you lose that cushion you’ve got bone rubbing against bone. If you’ve got arthritis, no wonder you feel stiff and your joints hurt and you can’t move like you used to.
We humans aren’t the only ones prone to arthritis. Our pets and other animals fall victim. Apparently, so did creatures that roamed the earth with dinosaurs.
According to several news reports from 2012, “Scientists found signs of a degenerative condition similar to human arthritis in the jaw of a pliosaur — an ancient sea reptile that lived 150 million years ago. The discovery marks the first time arthritis-like diseases have been found in fossilized Jurassic reptiles.”
Osteoarthritis may be common and it may be ancient, but we still don’t completely understand what causes it or the best treatment. Here are some common risk factors and treatments, courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation.

Common arthritis risk factors

• Age  The older you are, the more wear and tear on your joints. Although age is an important risk factor, it doesn’t mean that osteoarthritis is inevitable.

• Obesity  For every pound you gain, you add four pounds of pressure on your knees and six times the pressure on your hips. Research suggests that excess body fat produces chemicals that travel throughout the body and cause joint damage, which would mean that obesity plays a systemic, not just a mechanical, role in osteoarthritis onset.

• Injury or Overuse Athletes and people who have jobs that require doing repetitive motion, such as landscaping, typing or machine operating, are at increased risk because of injuries or stress on certain joints.

• Genetics or Heredity Genetics can play a role, especially in the hands.

• Muscle Weakness Weak muscles surrounding the knee can put you at risk. Strengthening exercises for thigh muscles may help reduce the risk.

Common arthritis treatments 

• Exercise
• Weight control
• Joint protection
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Medications
• Surgery

Osteoarthritis and exercise

Because their joints feel stiff and they hurt, many people with osteoarthritis stop being active, when regular exercise might help them feel better. Julia Dunfey is a physical therapist at Coastal Rehab, a private practice based in Southern Maine that provides occupational, physical, and speech therapy services to the geriatric community. She says the biggest misconception about osteoarthritis is that people think if it hurts to move, you shouldn’t. In fact, movement is a good thing. “It helps to lubricate the joints,” says Julia. “Movement produces more synovial fluid, which lubricates joints and helps them move more smoothly. It also brings nutrients to all the structures inside the joints. Not using a joint is going to make it deteriorate even more.”

Julia says low resistance, low impact, non-weight-bearing exercises are best for people with arthritis. A combination of strengthening and stretching exercises should keep your joints strong and flexible. Research shows that lifting weights or using resistance bands not only improves muscle strength and function but can also reduce pain. Exercises that move your joints through their entire range of motion can help ease stiffness.

Good choices for exercise

• Swimming
• Water aerobics
• Bicycling
• Stationary bike (a recumbent bike is a good alternative)
• Elliptical machine
• Tai Chi
• Resistance bands
• Chair exercises
• Gym that is “senior-friendly”

http://dianeatwood.com/exercise-arthritis/

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HEALTH LINES: Arthritis common condition, but not easily understood by all

From djournal.com

Arthritis is a condition that is very common, but not well understood by most. It is not a single disease. There are actually more than 100 types of arthritis.

More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is more common in women and is the leading cause of disability in America. Common arthritis complaints are joint pain, swelling and stiffness.

Inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid, lupus) is an overreaction of the body’s immune system. The body attacks the cartilage and destroys it. Metabolic joint disease (gout) occurs when crystals are deposited in the joints and cause acute pain. These are best treated by a primary care physician, nurse practitioner or specialist (rheumatologist) with medications and changes in diet. Blood tests are often used in the diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis) is the most common type. Cartilage is the thick cushioning surface on the ends of bones. With time this cartilage can wear down (thinning/mild arthritis) and progress to the point where bone rubs on bone (severe arthritis).

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine has significantly advanced the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis. As a physician at NEO Sports Medicine, I am often asked when someone should seek medical treatment. Anyone in their teenage years or younger with a joint that stays swollen for more than a few days should be seen urgently to rule out cartilage damage or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Mild non-traumatic joint pain in someone 30 or older can start initial treatment with weight loss, anti-inflammatory medication (Aleve, Advil, Tylenol), and reasonable exercise that does not cause pain. Primary care physicians can prescribe stronger anti-inflammatories.

If this does not provide relief, a referral to an orthopaedist is the next step. Patients should not assume an appointment means imminent surgery. X-rays will give the doctor a good idea of the condition of the joint. At NEO Sports Medicine, physicians look at the whole person not just a joint. Many times a course of physical therapy to strengthen the muscles (the “shock absorbers” of a joint) will help. A steroid injection into the joint can also provide relief. Braces can also be used on a short-term basis to give the joint a rest.

Joint pain is not always arthritis. Torn cartilage can often be repaired with an outpatient arthroscopic surgery using a small camera that is quite minor. An MRI can be helpful to get a better picture of the joint. For major joint damage that has failed conservative treatment, a joint replacement can provide life-changing relief. Replacements are available for the knee, hip, shoulder and even finger joints.

Modern joint replacements are now meant to last longer than 15 years and can allow patients to get back to a more active lifestyle. My partners and I provide accurate diagnoses and seek to exhaust all forms of conservative treatment. If surgery is indicated, we provide minimally invasive joint surgery to get patients back to the lifestyle they desire.

http://djournal.com/lifestyle/health-lines-arthritis-common-condition-not-easily-understood/

Spotting chronic conditions: 6 ways to manage arthritis pain

From sunriseseniorliving.com

While there is no cure for arthritis, there are ways for individuals to treat their condition and lead otherwise healthy lives.
Arthritis is an umbrella term for a number of conditions that impact the joints, which can lead to pain, inflammation and other symptoms, the Arthritis Foundation detailed. Although there are many forms of arthritis - over 100, in fact - the term is widely used to discuss the two most common forms: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Read on to learn more about this common health problem and some of the best ways to help manage it:
Strategies for managing arthritis
In terms of medical treatment, there are a range of options for arthritis patients, including medication and surgery. Treatments will vary, contingent on the patient and the kind of arthritis he or she is experiencing. Patients may find that just one form of treatment works, while others will need to try multiple approaches. Surgery can be used to insert new joint or help repair damaged ones. This strategy is typically only employed as a last resort. Most commonly patients are prescribed pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs, many of which can be procured over the counter. There are also medication options for those exclusively experiencing rheumatoid arthritis: Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, as they are known, work to disrupt the immune system while it attacks joints, relieving symptoms.
In addition to medical treatments, there are a number of strategies that arthritis patients can try in their daily lives to try and manage pain and reduce swelling. They include:
1. Exercise
While this strategy may seem counterintuitive given that arthritis is a disease that impacts the joints, exercise can actually help relieve arthritis pain, Healthline explained. The best forms of exercise for arthritis patients are those that are low-impact - so essentially any water-based activity, such as swimming. Certain forms of high-impact activity, such as running, should be avoided, however, as they can exacerbate symptoms. This is because such exercises put additional stress on joints, increasing the risk of further damage and pain.
2. Weight management
Being overweight or obese can place stress on inflamed and painful joints. As such, an effective strategy for managing arthritis pain is weight management, Everyday Health explained. For those already overweight, making an effort to lose extra pounds will likely result in less severe arthritis symptoms.

3. Consumption of fatty acids According to Healthline, omega-3 fatty acids can be effective at helping to manage pain in the joints. Found primarily in oily fish, eating fatty acids at least a couple of times a week will likely be beneficial for those experiencing arthritis. Incorporating fatty acids into one's diet also carries an array of other health benefits. For those who do not like sea food, omega-3 fatty acids can be taken as supplements. 4. Acupuncture therapy
As detailed by the Mayo Clinic, acupuncture is an ancient technique used to treat a wide range of conditions, including arthritis symptoms. The process works using needles on the skin, across the body. A number of studies have indicated that the therapy can be effective for relieving pain in some patients.
5. Sleep and rest
Arthritis pain and inflammation increases with fatigue, according to Very Well magazine, so arthritis patients are encouraged to get the recommended amount of sleep each night - around eight hours - and to take regular breaks when pain and inflammation increase.
6. Stress management
According to Everyday Health, feeling stressed on a routine basis can exacerbate arthritis symptoms. Arthritis patients, therefore, are encouraged to find ways to manage daily stress and anxieties, whether that's physical activities such as yoga or meditation or meeting with a therapist. There are also now a number of smartphone apps available designed to make stress management efforts easier.

https://www.sunriseseniorliving.com/blog/april-2017/spotting-chronic-conditions-6-ways-to-manage-arthritis-pain.aspx

Lady Gaga Suffers From Chronic Pain From Rheumatoid Arthritis

From inquisitr.com

Lady Gaga always brings awareness whether it’s for her health or for the advocacy of others. The singer is gracing the cover of Arthritis magazine, which hit newsstands on Wednesday, March 28. Inside the new issue, Lady Gaga talks about her struggle with rheumatoid arthritis and how she doesn’t let it stop her from performing.

On the magazine, she’s quoted saying, “Hip pain can’t stop me!” and “I fought RA pain with my passion.” It doesn’t look like Gaga posed for a photo shoot for the unconventional magazine. While it’s certainly not a pop culture or fashion magazine, Gaga’s fans will appreciate that she’s continuing to speak out about her health issues.
The “Million Reasons” singer has always been open about her health issues. It may be unusual to see Lady Gaga on the cover of Arthritis magazine, but it’s for all for good reason. The entertainer wants people to know that anyone can get arthritis at any age. Back in 2013, she had to cancel the remaining dates of her “Born This Way Ball” in order to undergo surgery for a broken hip.
“My injury was actually a lot worse than just a labral tear,” she previously revealed to Women’s Wear Daily. “I had broken my hip. Nobody knew, and I haven’t even told the fans yet.”

“But when we got all the MRIs finished before I went to surgery there were giant craters, a hole in my hip the size of a quarter, and the cartilage was just hanging out the other side of my hip. I had a tear on the inside of my joint and a huge breakage. The surgeon told me that if I had done another show I might have needed a full hip replacement.”

Gaga has documented her battle with chronic pain on Instagram. According to Self Magazine, the 30-year-old singer documented her health in a series of Instagram posts and even talked about her natural remedies for dealing with the pain.
“Having a frustrating day with chronic pain, but I find myself feeling so blessed to have such strong, intelligent female doctors,” she captioned one photo. “I think about Joanne too and her strength and the day it gets a little easier. Plus I got @wanaynay by my side. ‘Hey Girl, we can make it easy if we lift each other.'”
According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic pain is a long-time battle. Over one in 10 Americans or 25.3 million adults suffer every day from chronic pain, according to NIH data released in 2015.
Chronic pain is hard to diagnose as it could come from anything. Some of the factors that cause pain include stress, injury, or health issues. Gaga revealed that if her body spasms, she will use an infrared sauna. She will wrap herself up in silver emergency blankets inside a hot room. Gaga then follows up her treatment with an ice bath and places cold packs on her body where she experiences the pain.
“Hope this helps some of you, it helps me to keep doing my passion, my job and the things I love even on days when I feel like I can’t get out of bed,” she said.

http://www.inquisitr.com/4102683/lady-gaga-suffers-from-chronic-pain-from-rheumatoid-arthritis/