The Importance of Exercise in Preventing Arthritis Pain and Discomfort

As a person ages, the body begins to change. Many of these changes occur naturally as part of the aging process. For instance, over time, it begins to take longer for the brain to process information, which is normal.

While there are many natural changes to the body that occur with age, there are also a number of diseases that are more common among the elderly and can have a very big impact on daily life. Of these diseases, arthritis is probably one of the most well known and can greatly increase the risk of a fall. For seniors with arthritis, or any other mobility related disease, it is important to take measures to prevent falls and make the home safer.

While it is always important to speak with a doctor first, one of the most important steps in preventing falls for those with arthritis is to stay active. Research has found that regular low impact exercise can help fight the effects of most types of arthritis and exercise is usually an important step in treatment.

For many arthritis sufferers, one of the most annoying symptoms is stiffness and pain that occurs due to inactivity. This can cause a great deal of joint pain in the morning, after having been in bed all night, or even after having been seated for several hours.

Exercise and Stretching Helps Reduce Pain

While there isn’t too much you can do about morning pain, although for some people heat has been shown to relieve pain, it is possible to address pains and stiffness that occurs during the day. The first step is to pay attention to your body and learn how long it takes before you start feeling discomfort.

It is important to note that often with this type of arthritis pain, it does not hurt until you begin moving again, which can lead some to remain inactive for longer periods of time. In the end this approach only serves to make the pain worse.

Instead of remaining immobile, it is better to periodically get up and do some stretches or light exercises. Ask your doctor to show you some exercises that you can do standing up and in your living room.

By getting up and stretching periodically, you can help fight off the arthritis pain that is caused by remaining immobile. It may take a little while to figure out how long to wait before stretching, so don’t get discouraged. Instead, spend some time experimenting and getting to know how your body works. For example, to start with, you could get up and stretch during the commercial breaks of a program and go from there.

Rather than simply sitting still and dealing with the pain when you stand up, it is better to address the problem by stretching and exercising before it gets to the point of pain and discomfort.