“Wear & tear” motto for arthritis out! It’s now “wear & repair” according to the latest evidence based research. In fact, in ultra marathon runners, they found it was possible for regeneration of cartilage while running! (Schultz et al., 2014).
What does this mean for you and your arthritis?
Ultimately it means less arthritis pain! Regular exercise is an important part of any management plan, helping to reduce symptoms like pain and stiffness as well as improve joint mobility and strength. Myotherapy can help reduce pain to get you feeling able to move, a very important step in repairing your affected joint.
Here’s the main benefits of exercise for your affected joint:
- Certain types of exercise can actually increase cartilage in your affected joint!
- The stronger your muscles are around the affected joint, the better they can support and protect the joint.
- The movement of synovial fluid through the joint as you move it through its range of motion helps with better lubrication and nourishment of the joint.
Here’s some other benefits of exercise:
- Improved balance and posture
- Improved sleep
- May improve bone density
- Better mood and reduction of stress
- Maintain a healthy weight
Overall exercise improves your wellbeing and confidence, decreases pain and makes the affected joint work better. In the long run this is going to reduce the chance of you needing a joint replacement and your overall health won’t deteriorate.
What next?
We don’t recommend you rush out to buy a gym membership straight away! Book in with your trusted musculoskeletal therapist to get an individual program suited for your needs, lifestyle and goals. Like we said earlier, the benefit of seeing someone like us, Clinical Myotherapy, is that we can also help manage pain in the short term while the exercise starts to work it’s magic.
Want to have a chat to get some advice or see if Clinical Myotherapy is right for your arthritis? Click here to book a free 15 minute chat with us!
Not sure you have arthritis?
Here are some common symptoms:
- Pain on movement and achy when sitting still.
- Stiffness, especially first thing in the morning.
- Loss of motion like bending and fully straightening your knee.
- Instability- It may feel like your knee is giving out or buckling.
- Locking- May lock or stick
- Swelling- Might get puffy all around or on one side.
Can we help?
Book online here for a full Clinical Myotherapy session or email us [email protected] with any questions you may have.