Diseases and Disorders » Bone Diseases

Arthritis Pain – Tips

Roger Thompson — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:38:05 +0000

Strong muscles help protect the joints from wear and tear, and the movement keeps joints flexible. That is why the quest for fitness is at hand, even if you are 55 years and over.

However, most Americans over 55 are still right where they always were sitting back and watching others jog by. Most of them contend that that is just for people who have been athletic all their life, or some say exercise is for young people and engaging into exercise will do them more harm than good.

There are still some that insist on exercise routines because they do not just have time or they have much less energy than ever before. These are all lame excuses. Hence, it is time to start to get rid of those pains. Start exercising.

Consequently, preventing arthritis is not an exact science, but physicians have discovered a few ways to lower your risk. The single most important measure anyone can take to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee is to lose weight if they are overweight. Extra weight puts extra stress on your knees. If you are 10 pounds overweight, for example, you put 60 pounds per square inch of extra pressure on your knees every time you take a step. That extra pressure can slowly but surely erode the cartilage in your knees, leading to this disease.

A study has clearly supported the theory that weight loss weighs in on the side of prevention. In the study, overweight women who lost many pounds or more over a 10-year period decreased their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.Try to hold a slow, steady stretch for 15 to 20 seconds, then relax and repeat. It is best to flex up by stretching before any exercise, especially running and walking. But it is also a good idea to stretch each day. Ask your doctor to teach you stretches that focus on potential arthritis trouble spots, such as the knees or the lower back.

Learn more about arthritis resources. Stop by http://www.arthritisreliefhelp.info where you can find out all about arthritis pain help and what it can do for you.

Arthritis And Exercise

Roger Thompson — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 09:36:36 +0000

Your bones hang out in a lot of joints. Knee joints. Hip joints. The joints in your fingers and the joints in your toes. Wherever bones meet, there is also cartilage, a rubbery, protective layer that ensures your joints bend smoothly and painlessly. But even cartilage cannot do this tremendous job alone. A thin membrane provides fluid that lubricates the moving parts of the joint. When the cartilage wears out, becomes inflamed, the result is generally a case of “osteoarthritis” or “rheumatoid arthritis.”

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage can be damaged so much that bone does rub on bone. This type of arthritis develops gradually over a lifetime as a simple result of the wear and tear placed on your joints over the years. Very few people escape some degree of osteoarthritis, though the severity varies a great deal.

As a matter of fact, if you are over the age of 50, you are likely to have at least one joint affected by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects men and women equally and is by far the most common type of arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list.

In rheumatoid arthritis, damage is at the source of problem. Doctors and researchers are not absolutely sure what causes it, but most think that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system actually attacks certain tissues in the body, including those that connect the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, and painful joints, but it may progress until scar tissue forms in the joint or, in extreme cases, until the bones actually fuse together. Almost 75% of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States are women. The disease can hit as early as teen years.Reserving a little time in developing a good weight-bearing low-impact exercise and stretching plan can add up to great results when it comes to staving off arthritis pain.

Want to find out more about arthritis, then visit http://www.arthritisreliefhelp.info site on how to choose the best help on Rheumatoid Arthritis for your needs.