Arthritis includes more than 100 inflammatory and degenerative conditions that cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. The two most prevalent types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative type of arthritis that develops over time, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. Now research reports that exercise can help prevent disability from arthritis and improve joint function.
In a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, researchers from Northwestern University examined the effect of exercise on disability in 3,554 arthritis patients, ages 53-63. They found that the participants who were getting the recommended amount of physical activity were the least likely to develop more arthritis-related disabilities. "Given the high prevalence of arthritis, even modest increases in rates of lifestyle physical activity among older adults could make a substantial contribution to disability-free life expectancy," the study authors write.
Research reports that yoga exercise may help arthritis patients. Several studies have found that yoga can help arthritis of the hands. One study published in the Journal of Rheumatology showed that yoga exercise reduced pain and increased grip strength and range of motion in patients with osteoarthritis of the hands. Another study found that yoga exercise improved hand grip strength in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine examined the effect of Iyengar style yoga exercise on disability in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. At the end of the study, the participants reported an improvement of symptoms and a significant reduction in pain and stiffness of the knees. "This pilot study suggests that yoga may provide a feasible treatment option for previously yoga-naive, obese patients greater than 50 years of age and offers potential reductions in pain and disability caused by knee osteoarthritis," the study authors conclude.
Posted by Kristopher Foster on May 12, 2006 10:41 AM
