Importance of Exercise for Arthritis Patients

Exercise can help ease joint pain and stiffness for arthritis sufferers. Research has shown the old thought process: “rest your arthritic joints”, only makes them worse. But despite this knowledge and plenty of science documenting appropriate exercise benefits for arthritis suffers, many men and women with osteoarthritis do not engage in any meaningful physical activity in a typical week.


Dunlop DD, Song J, Semanik PA, et al. Objective physical activity measurement in the osteoarthritis initiative: Are guidelines being met? Arthritis Rheum. 2011: Jul 26 [Epub ahead of print]

OBJECTIVE: Measured physical activity levels of adults with knee OA and report the prevalence of meeting public health physical activity guidelines.

METHODS: Cross-sectional accelerometer data from 1111 adults with radiographic knee OA aged 49 to 84 years participating in Osteoarthritis Initiative accelerometer monitoring ancillary study were assessed for meeting the aerobic component of the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (≥150 minutes/week in episodes≥10 minutes). RESULTS: Aerobic physical activity guidelines were met by 12.9% of men and 7.7% of women with knee OA. A substantial 40.1% of men and 56.5% of women were inactive, doing no moderate-to-vigorous (MV) activity over 7 days that lasted 10 minutes or more.

CONCLUSION: Despite substantial health benefits from physical activity, adults with knee OA were particularly inactive based on objective accelerometer monitoring. The percentages of men and women who met public health physical activity guidelines were substantially less than previous reports based on self-reported activity in arthritis populations.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Physical Activity and Arthritis
(found at: http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/pa_overview.htm)

Why is physical activity important for arthritis? Scientific studies have shown that physical activity can reduce pain and improve function, mood, and quality of life for adults with arthritis. Physical activity can also help manage other chronic conditions that are common among adults with arthritis, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Tips for S.M.A.R.T. physical activity if you have arthritis

• Start low, and go slow
• Modify activity when arthritis symptoms increase, try to stay active.
• Activities should be “joint friendly.”
• Recognize safe places and ways to be active.
• Talk to a health professional, like a physical therapist, who is specialized in training movement/exercise.