Harvard Health: Does running cause arthritis?

From chicagotribune.com

By Robert H. Shmerling

When I took up running in college, a friend of mine scoffed at the idea. He hated running and was convinced runners were “wearing out” their joints. He liked to say he was saving his knees for his old age.

So, was he on to something?  Does running really ruin your joints, as many people believe?

Runners can get arthritis, but is running the cause?

You may think the answer is obvious. Surely, years of running, pounding pavements or even softer surfaces, could wear out your joints much like tires wear out after you put enough miles on them. And osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, usually affects older adults. In fact, it’s often described as age-related and degenerative. That sounds like a wear-and-tear sort of situation, right?

Maybe not. Sure, it’s easy to blame running when a person who runs regularly develops arthritis. But that blame may be misguided. The questions to ask are:

• Does running damage the joints and lead to arthritis?
• Does arthritis develop first and become more noticeable while running?
• Is the connection more complicated? Perhaps there’s no connection between running and arthritis for most people. But maybe those destined to develop arthritis (due to their genes, for example) get it sooner if they take up running.

Extensive research over the last several decades has investigated these questions. While the answers are still not entirely clear, we’re moving closer.

What is the relationship between running and arthritis?

Mounting evidence suggests that that running does not cause osteoarthritis or any other joint disease.

• A study published in 2017 found that recreational runners had lower rates of hip and knee osteoarthritis (3.5%) compared with competitive runners (13.3%) and non-runners (10.2%).
• According to a 2018 study, the rate of hip or knee arthritis among 675 marathon runners was half the rate expected within the US population.
• A 2022 analysis of 24 studies found no evidence of significant harm to the cartilage lining the knee joints on MRIs taken just after running.

These are just a few of the published medical studies on the subject. Overall, research suggests that running is an unlikely cause of arthritis--and might even be protective.

Why is it hard to study running and arthritis?

• Osteoarthritis takes many years to develop: Convincing research would require a long time, perhaps a decade or more.
• It’s impossible to perform an ideal study: The most powerful type of research study is a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Participants in these studies are assigned to a treatment group (perhaps taking a new drug) or a control group (often taking a placebo). Double-blind means neither researchers nor participants know which people are in the treatment group and which people are getting a placebo. When the treatment being studied is running, there’s no way to conduct this kind of trial
• Beware the confounders: A confounder is a factor or variable you can’t account for in a study. There may be important differences between people who run and those who don’t that have nothing to do with running. For example, runners may follow a healthier diet, maintain a healthier weight, or smoke less than non-runners. They may differ with respect to how their joints are aligned, the strength of their ligaments, or genes that direct development of the musculoskeletal system. These factors could affect the risk of arthritis and make study results hard to interpret clearly. In fact, they may explain why some studies find that running is protective.
• The effect of running may vary between people: For example, it’s possible, though not proven, that people with obesity who run regularly are at increased risk of arthritis due to the stress of excess weight on the joints.

The bottom line

Trends in recent research suggest that running does not wear out your joints. That should be reassuring for those of us who enjoy running. And if you don’t like to run, that’s fine: try to find forms of exercise that you enjoy more. Just don’t base your decision--or excuse--for not running on the idea that it will ruin your joints.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/people/health/ct-harvard-health-running-arthritis-20230510-lqsjigz72zbjdhiy6bezcscvjq-story.html 

Scientists recruit 2,000 Britons to find a link between psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis in later life

From dailymail.co.uk

• More than 150,000 Britons suffer with psoriatic arthritis according to research 
• Researchers want to discover the link between the skin condition and arthritis 

The link between the skin disease psoriasis and developing arthritis later in life will be explored in a first-of-its-kind study.

Psoriasis causes red, flaky and itchy patches of skin all over the body, and studies show that around a third of sufferers will also eventually be diagnosed with the painful joint condition.

While more than 150,000 people in the UK have these two conditions – known as psoriatic arthritis – scientists do not know what triggers it.

Experts say this study of 2,000 Britons could help scientists uncover crucial risk factors and develop treatments that prevent this illness.

The participants, who will have been diagnosed with psoriasis but not have arthritis symptoms, will be tracked over a number of years to see if they develop psoriatic arthritis.

They will have regular blood tests and take a genetic examination to identify any tell-tale patterns in their DNA.

                                 Some 150,000 Britons suffer from psoriatic arthritis and the new research will try and find a link 

                                                                                   between the two painful conditions

Scientists from the medical research group Hippocrates will be looking for common factors between patients who develop psoriatic arthritis. It is thought that specific inherited genes play a role as the condition often runs in families. Smoking and obesity have also been linked.

But Professor Laura Coates, a rheumatologist at the University of Oxford and one of the researchers, says there are other factors to consider: ‘We want to see whether you’re more likely to get arthritis if your psoriasis is very severe, compared with those who have mild symptoms. We also will explore whether medication patients take to treat psoriasis has any impact, as well as underlying health conditions like heart disease and depression.’

She hopes that the results of the study will help doctors better manage psoriatic arthritis, saying: ‘If the key indicators are weight and diet, for example, we might suggest people with psoriasis follow a certain diet.

‘It’s possible that this data will eventually lead to us discovering a treatment to stop psoriatic arthritis before it can begin to take hold.’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12054565/Scientists-recruit-2-000-Britons-link-psoriasis-arthritis.html

How Psoriatic Arthritis Causes Hip Pain

From healthcentral.com

Stiff, sore joints are par for the course with this disease. We asked the experts what you can do about it 

If you’re living with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), you know how hip pain can be a major life-disrupter. The challenge with psoriatic arthritis—an autoimmune condition with no cure—is finding ways to manage chronic pain so that it doesn’t prevent you from living an active life. When it comes to your hips, there are a few tools you can use to lessen your discomfort.

Let’s take a look at how PsA affects the hips, other possible causes of hip pain, and how you can treat it. Experts say the sooner you begin treating hip pain in psoriatic arthritis, the better your health outcomes. Start here.

Psoriatic Arthritis and Inflammation

To understand the root of your hip discomfort, you need to begin with the underlying cause of PsA itself. Psoriatic arthritis is a disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, triggering inflammation that often leads to stiff and sore joints. While the specific joints causing you pain may differ than someone else with the disease, psoriatic arthritis doesn’t discriminate when it comes to causing pain. “Psoriatic arthritis is a full body disease,” says Laura Coates, Ph.D., an associate professor and researcher of psoriatic arthritis at the University of Oxford in England. “PsA can affect many different types of tissues, including tendons, skin, and spine, and can affect any joint in the body.”

Psoriatic arthritis symptoms related to inflammation can be mild or severe and can come and go. When inflammation-driven symptoms are at their worst, it is called a flare.

Signs of Inflamed Hips

For some people, that inflammation makes it’s way down to the hips. Your hip joint sits between your thigh bone (femur) and your hip bone (pelvis). This joint is made up of a ball and socket—the round part of your femur fits into a cup-like socket in your pelvis. It is one of the largest joints in your body and involves ligaments, tendons, and muscles as well as a fluid filled sac called a bursa.

©2018 Termedia & Banach

If your psoriatic arthritis is affecting one or both of your hip joints (known as bilateral hip pain), it won’t come as a surprise to your rheumatologist. In a study published in the journal Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, almost half of the participants with PsA developed hip pain within one year after the onset of the disease.

So what are the signs to look for with psoriatic arthritis-related hip pain? “Hip involvement with PsA can be tricky to identify since swollen hips are hard to see or feel,” says Coates. These are a few red flags to watch for:

• Arthritis in other joints. Pain in hands and/or feet may indicate a higher risk for hip pain, says Coates.

• Back pain. “Some patients with hip pain have significant spinal arthritis,” Coates explains.

• Morning hip pain. Also, pain at night when you are lying in bed.

• Pain at rest

• Pain when going from a seated position to a standing position

• Walking pain

Diagnosing Hip Pain in Psoriatic Arthritis

When diagnosing hip pain, the type of pain as well as location can reveal a lot. Is the pain short and sharp? Throbbing? Or a constant dull ache? With psoriatic arthritis, hip pain is likely to feel like significant morning stiffness, pain with activity, and limited range of motion, per The American Journal of Orthopaedics.

What’s more, it’s important to determine if the pain is directly related to the hip or if it’s what doctors call referred pain, meaning it originates somewhere else on your body even though you feel the pain sensation in your hip area, says Waseem Mir, M.D., a rheumatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “It’s possible the pain is coming from the bursa, back, or knee,” he says. Pain related to the bursa is known as psoriatic arthritis hip bursitis.

“If the pain is coming from the hip, then it needs to be determined if the pain is due to osteoarthritis (caused by wear and tear) or inflammatory arthritis,” Dr. Mir says, adding that there are some clues that can help differentiate between the two types of arthritis. “Some hints that can help include the age of the patient—if someone is in their 60s or 70s, it’s possible the pain is due to osteoarthritis,” he says. “An x-ray can help us understand more. If the x-ray is normal, then it is more likely it is due to inflammation.”

Another piece of information your doctor will use in making a diagnosis? Whether your hip pain is following a previous pattern of joint pain. “We can narrow it to inflammation-related psoriatic arthritis pain if it is following a pattern, such as previously there was hand pain, then elbow pain, then knee pain,” Dr. Mir explains.

Other Conditions That Can Cause Hip Pain

While hips are a common target of psoriatic arthritis, other causes of hip pain that should be investigated, according to the Mayo Clinic, include:

• Bursitis

• Hip fracture

• Hip labral tear

• Inguinal hernia

• Iliotibial band syndrome

• Infection

• Sprains

• Osteoarthritis of the hip

• Osteonecrosis of the hip

• Rheumatoid arthritis

Treating Hip Pain Due to Psoriatic Arthritis

The good news: “There are lots of different treatments we can use to help hip pain,” says Coates. For short term relief, local therapies are used to reduce the inflammation around the hip, such as a steroid injection into the hip joint, she says.

“For longer term relief, the whole-body inflammation caused by psoriatic arthritis needs to be addressed,” Coates adds. “We use systemic treatments, particularly if people have quite a few joints involved.” These include:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs

• Corticosteroids

• Methotrexate and other traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

• Biologic therapies

There are also ways to help manage the pain at home, which—while no substitute for medication—may offer temporary relief, including:

• Gentle stretching

• Ice packs

• Moderate exercise

• Moist heat

Physical therapy for psoriatic arthritis may also be an important tool to ease hip pain both short term and long term. “Physical therapy should happen alongside treating the inflammation,” says Coates. “It’s really important for controlling pain and maximising function.” Usually, she explains, your rheumatologist will work to control inflammation first and then use physical therapy as a supplementary treatment to people regain strength and muscle tone that can be lost from lack of activity in people with PsA-related hip pain.

Complications of Psoriatic Arthritis Hip Pain

Even if you feel like you are learning to live with stiff and achy hips, you should still bring it to your provider’s attention, says Dr. Mir. “Untreated psoriatic arthritis is erosive, and the constant inflammation can damage joints over time,” he explains.

Left untreated, psoriatic arthritis hip pain can result in complications that include causing you to walk with a different gate or put less weight on that leg, called compensation. Over time, that can lead to weakness on one side of the body, or the development of new pain further along the kinetic chain (interconnection of muscles that are involved in specific movements like walking). In the worst cases, hip pain can become so severe that you’re unable to walk, according to Harvard Medical School.

Though it’s little consolation, if you are living with PsA, it’s not surprising that you have hip pain. The experience is common—and also treatable. Whether it’s a signal to your rheumatologist that you need more or different medication to control the inflammation associated with your disease, or it’s a sign that you should adopt certain lifestyle changes to lessen your hip discomfort, there are meaningful ways to manage PsA hip pain.

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/psoriatic-arthritis/psoriatic-arthritis-hip-pain

To Your Good Health: Choose the right exercise for arthritis relief

From agrinews-pubs.com

By Dr. Keith Roach

I so appreciated your recent column on arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis. I’m a big exerciser. However, I have always heard that this arthritis is caused or exacerbated by wear and tear. I was surprised to hear otherwise. I have modified or given up a handful of exercises that seem to cause my joints more pain, specifically full-body weight-bearing on my wrists. Are these exercises I can incorporate back into my routine? I have found that certain activities — that is, card shuffling, buttoning and so forth— hurt my thumbs, so I have made adaptations. Should I work through the pain, assuming that I am not causing any more damage to my joints?

Most exercise is not damaging to joints, but high-impact or high-frequency activities can certainly worsen arthritis pain.

For arthritis of the knees and hips, I recommend walking as the best exercise, starting slow and building up based on what a person can tolerate.

It’s the movement, not the resistance, that’s most important, so swimming — or just walking in a pool — is a great option for people who feel too much pain from walking.

For the smaller joints of the hands and wrists, I would recommend activities that don’t hurt you as much.

Stretching the joints and movements like squeezing are a good place to start. You might consider a “stress ball” or a hand therapy ball to provide some resistance and build up hand strength.

Adapting your activities to your limitations is a good idea, but you also want to work on improving those limitations. A physical or occupational therapist is your best partner in designing a program.

Don’t forget that over-the-counter topical anti-inflammatory medicines, like diclofenac, are pretty effective with small joints and are very safe.

Would you discuss the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and the ankylosing spondylitis?

Both rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are uncommon — each affecting about 1% of the population — inflammatory, multi-system diseases.

RA affects the synovium, the lining of the joint, and tends to affect the hands first, but it can affect nearly any joint. The major area of activity of AS occurs where bones connect to ligaments, cartilage and tendons.

There is an auto-immune component to both diseases. Without treatment, RA leads to joint deformities, whereas AS causes new bone formation, leading to pain and reduced movement of the joints.

The back and neck are most often affected in AS, but the hips and other joints may also be affected.

RA is treated early and aggressively with disease-modifying agents, such as methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine, or with biological agents.

Physical therapy is useful in RA, but is a mainstay of therapy with AS. Medications are often needed in AS, usually starting with anti-inflammatory drugs and progressing to more potent agents if needed.

About 30% will need biological agents, whereas 94% of people with RA need a disease-modifying drug.

A rheumatologist is the expert for both conditions, and a person with either condition should be referred to an expert as soon as the diagnosis is made.

https://www.agrinews-pubs.com/features/2023/05/04/to-your-good-health-choose-the-right-exercise-for-arthritis-relief/ 

Can You Prevent Psoriatic Arthritis?

From healthcentral.com

Answer: No, but there are ways to lower risk factors and keep moderate PsA from becoming severe. Here’s how 

For right now, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is not a preventable disease. Whether or not you develop psoriatic arthritis is determined by a combination of genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors. Scientists are continuously learning how these variables fit together to cause this chronic condition.

Still, that doesn’t mean that you are totally powerless in your psoriatic arthritis journey. Just the opposite, in fact: When it comes to symptom management and disease severity, much is within your control. Follow the expert- and science-backed advice here to help make psoriatic arthritis easier to navigate and less disruptive in your daily life.

Preventing Psoriatic Arthritis Symptom Flares

While we can’t yet prevent PsA, there are treatments and strategies to keep it under control. Psoriatic disease often goes through cycles of active symptoms that appear for a few weeks or months and then subside. These are called flares or psoriatic arthritis flare-ups.

The source of what made the flare occur in the first place is referred to as a trigger. If you want to reduce your flares, you need to determine the triggers that seem to exacerbate your condition, says Waseem Mir, M.D., a rheumatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. That’s not always easy. “Different people with PsA have different triggers,” Dr. Mir says. “For example, emotional stress, food intolerances, and changes in weather can cause psoriatic arthritis to flare.” Per Dr. Mir, some of the other known PsA triggers include:

• Alcohol

• Lack of Sleep

• Medications such as beta-blockers

• Obesity

• Poor Diet

• Skipping or stopping psoriatic arthritis medication

• Smoking

• Stress

GettyImages/Maskot

Treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis

Treatment for PsA is definitely not a one size fits all proposition. And more often than not, finding the best treatment for you is a process of trial and error, especially if your rheumatologist is attempting to treat psoriasis and PsA at the same time. The American College of Rheumatology and the National Psoriasis Foundation have issued guidelines for PsA treatment. Both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment are recommended. Non-pharmacological therapies include:

• Exercise

• Massage therapy

• Physical therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Smoking cessation

• Weight loss

There are wide variety of pharmacological treatments for PsA, depending on symptom severity and include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)

• Glucocorticoids

• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

• Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors

• Biologics

• Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors

Role of Psoriasis in Psoriatic Arthritis Prevention

Having said that there is no known way to prevent PsA, it’s also true that scientists have some hunches. For example, we know there is a strong relationship between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and that the severity of psoriasis may be one prediction of whether or not a person develops PsA.

Approximately 20% to 30% of those with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, although the reason why is still a mystery. “The events responsible for progression from psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis are currently unclear,” says Zhanna Mikulik, M.D., a rheumatologist who leads the psoriatic arthritis clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre in Columbus. “But psoriasis severity and nail pitting are predictors of PsA development.”

Can treating psoriasis prevent PsA? That’s a question currently being investigated, acknowledges Dr. Mikulik. “Several studies are underway to evaluate whether highly effective treatment of psoriasis can prevent or mitigate development of PsA,” she says. (In case you’re wondering, it’s also possible to have psoriatic arthritis without having psoriasis, but it is not very common.)

Can Weight Loss Prevent Severe Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms?

Losing weight if you’re carrying extra pounds won’t prevent or cure you of psoriatic arthritis, but it can make the joint pain associated with the disease easier to bear. “Obesity is associated with higher disease activity in psoriatic arthritis,” says Dr. Mikulik. The connection: Body fat may promote chronic low-grade inflammation, per research in the journal Rheumatology and Therapy. And inflammation is at the heart of PsA pain.

Shedding pounds is never an easy feat, but even a small amount of weight loss can make a major difference in disease activity, believes Dr. Mikulik. Bonus: The same foods that promote weight loss can also fight inflammation, including anti-inflammatory foods such as olive oil, leafy greens, fatty fish, fruits and berries, and nuts.

Beyond reducing inflammation, weight loss can also improve the efficacy of your psoriatic arthritis medication. According to a 2020 article, obesity is associated with lessening the potency of PsA medication, especially when it comes to anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents.

Controlling Psoriatic Arthritis Can Help Prevent Other Diseases

According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than half of people with PsA have at least one other related medical condition and 40% of people with PsA have three or more comorbid conditions. One of the big ones? Heart disease. “Psoriatic disease should be controlled to lower the risk of developing heart disease,” maintains Dr. Mikulik, who explains that lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation, and weight loss can all be helpful to reducing PsA co-morbidities.

Emotional Toll of Psoriatic Arthritis

If you have psoriatic arthritis, you know all about the emotional toll this disease can take. “Living with pain can be depressing,” says Dr. Mir. “The limitations of what you can do, and if your joints are going to agree with it, can also take its toll.”

In a 2022 study looking at psoriatic arthritis and mental health, PsA was associated with depression and higher anxiety. According to the study authors, depression remains unrecognized and untreated in over half of moderately-to-severe psoriasis patients. Fortunately, there are things you can do to care for your mental health while managing psoriatic arthritis. First, talk to your doctor about feelings of anxiety or depression. “Some patients will let you into what they are experiencing, while others will cover it up,” says Dr. Mir. Staying on top of your psoriatic arthritis treatment to minimize flares can also help you mentally. Joint pain along with stiffness and reduced range of motion can be mentally wearing.

And finally, connecting with others living with psoriatic arthritis can help you feel understood, especially when it comes to grappling with the uneven nature of the condition. Staying physically active and eating well are two other tools to help keep your mood steady when you’re dealing with PsA. There’s nothing easy about living with a disease that can neither be prevented nor cured, but with the right approach, you can learn to manage symptoms and maintain your quality of life.

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/psoriatic-arthritis/can-you-prevent-psoriatic-arthritis

What It Means When Your Big Toe Cracks

From healthdigest.com

As kids, we all got a little grossed out when someone cracked their knuckles. As adults, some of us might have that same popping or cracking of the toes or other joints. We might be the only ones who hear it or others might cringe as they hear the sound from several feet away. The name of this condition sounds equally as cringeworthy — crepitus. According to Arthritis Health, you could have crepitus for most of your life or you could notice it as you get older.

What often happens when your toe cracks is an air bubble gets trapped between your joints. You'll hear a popping or cracking sound when this air bubble pops. Your tendons and ligaments are also moving around your joints and could create a snapping sound when moving around the bone. If this cracking or popping doesn't cause pain, crepitus isn't usually a concern. However, if you experience other symptoms when your big toe cracks, it could indicate other conditions.

A big toe cracking could mean arthritis

According to New York Foot Health, cracking or popping in your toes can be a problem if you have other symptoms — such as pain that worsens with activity, stiffness, joint swelling, limited range of motion, redness around the joint, difficulty bearing weight or walking, and a feeling of warmth in the joint. If you experience symptoms like these, your cracking big toe could indicate arthritis. Although arthritis is a general term for joint problems, certain types of arthritis could specifically impact your feet such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout.

You're at a greater risk for arthritis if you're older, overweight, or wear tight-fitting heels, according to Northeast Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. You're also more likely to have arthritis if members of your family have had arthritis. 

You can ease arthritis pain in your feet by using a topical treatment that has capsaicin, such as Icy Hot. Wiggling your toes, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), and getting foot massages can also help with arthritis symptoms. You might also consider swapping your footwear to support your feet.

Other reasons for your big toe cracking

Northeast Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine says that Lyme disease, HIV, chikungunya, and other infections could have symptoms similar to arthritis. Lupus occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own healthy tissues and could cause pain in your toes and other joints. Pain in your toes could also indicate vasculitis, where your blood vessels have inflammation. Morton's neuroma can cause pain in your toes because of inflammation in the tissues surrounding a nerve in your foot.

Any cracking of your big toe (or any toe) could also mean a broken toe, according to Feet First Foot Care. A broken toe might make a cracking sound, and you'll also experience pain and swelling. A podiatrist or other medical professional can diagnose a broken toe through an X-ray. Small fractures in a toe might heal by taping it to an uninjured toe or wearing a shoe that immobilizes the injured toe, according to Mayo Clinic. You might need to wear a cast to allow a broken toe to heal.

https://www.healthdigest.com/1272393/what-means-big-toe-cracks/

Causes of Degenerative Arthritis and How to Prevent It

From semissourian.com

By: Dr. Greg Pursley ~ PC Medical Centres 

A common misconception about arthritis is that it is an aging process, but age — also known as time — is only one of three factors. Our physicians at PC Medical Centres hear it all of the time. Patients are told by other providers, “You have the knee joint of an 80-year-old,” or, “You have the spine of a 90-year-old.” However, we see 60, 70, 80 and 90-year-olds all of the time with joints that look great. So, what are the other factors? First, let’s look at what degenerative arthritis is.

Degenerative arthritis — inflammation of a joint causing degenerative change — is a process in which a joint in the body has repetitive inflammation either in or around the joint, which causes the joint to start to degenerate. This repetitive inflammation generally comes from malfunction. Simply put, if the joint is not working correctly, damage will occur, and inflammation will be the result. If the inflammation occurs either constantly or on a regular basis, the joint will start to degenerate.

There are three factors that create degenerative arthritis. First is time, also known as age; second is function or how the joint is working; and third is use or pressure on the joint. This is why you can have one knee that looks great but the other knee has degenerative arthritis. Or, you can have one spinal joint that has zero injury but the next spinal joint has degenerative arthritis.

Basically, if you have a joint in the body that is not functioning very well (function) and you use it a lot (pressure), it will degenerate quicker.

The answer is to improve the function of the joint as much as possible and heal the previous damage. This is done by improving the joint mobility, improving the muscle balance and using joint injections to improve the healing response.

https://www.semissourian.com/story/2992406.html

Have Arthritis? Take a Swing at Golf for Better Health

From coastalbreezenews.com

WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Could golfing be good medicine for arthritis?

Yes, according to researchers who found that for people with osteoarthritis, golfing lowered psychological distress and improved general health when compared with the general population.

"Golf is a health-enhancing source of physical activity, particularly for older adults," said lead researcher Brad Stenner, an occupational therapist at the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity at the University of South Australia, in Adelaide. "Golf is fun, affordable and a sport for life, with clear physical and mental health benefits."

For people with osteoarthritis (often called the "wear and tear" form of arthritis), golf helps maintain joint range of motion, strength and endurance, and contributes to mental health and well-being. Playing golf is also associated with lower levels of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease, Stenner said.

"We found that golfers both with and without osteoarthritis had higher quality of life and, significantly, lower levels of psychological distress, which is an indicator of anxiety and depression," he noted. "Golf appears to help improve well-being via a number of factors, including exercise, community, friendship and a sense of belonging."

Many people with arthritis stop playing sports altogether, but the impact of arthritis on playing golf is unknown, Stenner said.

"Our study looked at benefits for those with arthritis, not factors that may be barriers. It would appear from our findings at least, that those with osteoarthritis can continue to play golf given its relatively low impact on the joints, and enjoy the benefits of doing so," he added.

For the study, Stenner and his colleagues surveyed 459 golfers with osteoarthritis. More than 90% of golfers rated their health as good, very good or excellent, compared with 64% of those in the general population who didn't golf, the investigators found.

Moreover, among people with osteoarthritis, 22% of non-golfers reported high to very high levels of psychological distress, compared with just 8% of golfers.

The report was published recently in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.

It may seem counterintuitive that physical activity can help reduce pain and improve the well-being of people suffering from osteoarthritis, but that's exactly what doctors recommend, said Dr. Ariel Goldman, an orthopedic surgeon at Northwell Health in Great Neck, N.Y.

"Because osteoarthritis ... is a degenerative disease of the cartilage in the joints, which provides gliding and shock absorption, you wouldn't expect patients to have better reports of their pain if they're more physically active," he said.

"But actually patients with arthritis who play golf have lower reports of arthritic pain than those that don't, and that goes along with other studies that show that more activity allows patients to deal with their osteoarthritis better," Goldman explained.

Regular physical activity can help improve pain, quality of life and reduce risk factors such as obesity, he added.

Golf is a relatively low-impact sport and can play a role in maintaining mental health and overall well-being, especially if you walk the course and don't use a golf cart, Goldman advised.

Other low-impact activities that may have the same benefits as golf include yoga, Pilates, tai chi, bowling, pickleball and just taking a walk, he said.

"This study, like many other studies, shows that low-impact physical activity helps the physical and emotional well-being of patients suffering from osteoarthritis," Goldman said.

https://www.coastalbreezenews.com/lifestyles/health/have-arthritis-take-a-swing-at-golf-for-better-health/article_5c318471-ff0a-5b0e-9473-303df7bd02c6.html