Exercise improves arthritis symptoms
If you suffer from arthritis, you don't need me to describe to you the chronic—and often debilitating—pain. And a lot of times, that pain prevents you from keeping up with your normal activities. You're challenged with getting around your home, let alone engaging in any form of structured exercise.
But according to the research data, it's the very thing you need to do if your joints are causing you fits and agony.
For some time, studies have shown that there's no reason arthritis sufferers should avoid exercise. Even so, this group of folks has been found to be less fit than those who don't have arthritis.
A study was recently conducted to measure how well the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (formerly known as PACE) did in helping with the management of symptoms.
The research team recruited 346 patients who were on average 70 years old and had arthritis. One group was set up to exercise for an hour two times per week. The other group didn't begin the exercise program until after an eight-week period had elapsed.
The first group did a self-assessment at both 3 and 6 months after participation in the program. Using a visual scale that helps a patient figure out where they rate in terms of pain and other sensations, patients were able to determine where their personal pain figured. Also, they reported on their ability to move around, and took physical tests such as strength training to measure their abilities.
Results for this group at the 8-week mark showed significant improvement in pain, management of symptoms, and their level of fatigue. Those improvements continued into the 6-month mark as well.
What's more, after finishing the exercise program, those participants also had increased strength all over their body. The participants who continued to do the exercises after the close of the study also reported a continued gain in improvements.
The researchers concluded that this exercise program is safe and won't make an arthritis sufferer feel worse, but will actually add to and improve their quality of life.
