If you live with Osteoarthritis, you know that is can be painful and that there are good days and bad days. While it cannot be cured, there are things you can do to reduce the discomfort and live an active lifestyle that you love.
WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine.
Osteoarthritis is the inflammation of a joint. A joint is the junction of two bones – the place where they meet. Arth = joint and Itis = inflammation.
When a joint is inflamed, it can make simple daily tasks both challenging and painful. Things like buttoning a shirt or starting a car; getting in and out of a car; bending over to reach into a low cabinet; walking up and down stairs can be challenging.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. POSTURE AND BODY WEIGHT - Poor body alignment and excess body weight puts major stress on your joints, particularly in your hips and knees, causing cartilage to break down faster. In fact, every time you gain one pound, you add 3 pounds of pressure to your knees and 6 pounds of pressure to your hips. And for every 10 pounds of extra body weight you carry, your risk of arthritis increases 1.4 times. We get that the pain can cause a perpetual cycle of not moving and weight gain, so while you are managing your nutrition, finding an exercise regime that feels good is so important.
2. EXERCISE - Research has shown that exercise is an essential tool in managing arthritis pain It reduces joint pain and stiffness, builds strong muscle around the joints, and increases flexibility and endurance. The best activities are low impact such as Pilates, swimming and cycling.
What is important is that you don’t push through pain and cause inflammation. A qualified Pilates instructor will guide you to finding the right load and range of motion that feels good and encourages you to continue. Together, you will learn the right amounts and where you need to modify based on where your arthritis is.
3. MELT – The MELT Method, taught at TWC Pilates, is an effective self-treatment technique you can do at home daily. We teach you a hand and foot treatment that if done consistently, can reduced inflammation and increase mobility in your entire body.
4. NUTRITION – adopting an healthy diet is as important as exercise. Reduce sugar, processed foods and alcohol helps, while increasing your intake of vegetables, leafy grains and healthy fats will help to provide healing nutrients to your body.
For more information on how to reduce your pain and live an active lifestyle that you love, contact TWC Pilates here. A complimentary consultation is available. https://twconline.ca/contact