Resistance Exercise Improves Arthritic Joints
December 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment
When was the last time that you have heard someone say, “My physician said I shouldn’t exercise because I have bad knees or a bad back?” Several people with arthritic knees, shoulder rotator cuff strains, or back pain do not exercise because it’s painful and they are afraid of making their pain worse. As a result, they enter a ferocious cycle where physical immobility causes to muscle atrophy, which causes continued joint instability and pain.
Canadian researchers discovered that twelve weeks of resistance exercise (iso-kinetic training) increased leg strength in people with severe knee arthritis and alignment problems (bowlegged) without increasing knee pain during or after exercise. Strong muscles are essential for joint support in generating pain-free movement. Many people have increased joint pain as they get older.
This is because they did not maintain muscle fitness that helps in preventing excessive joint loading. So, remember, a sensible, well balanced exercise program will assist you in having healthy, pain-free joints that will last a very long time.
Source: Medicine Science Sports Exercise 40: 1376-1384, 2008
