Why is exercise beneficial to people with arthritis?
A. Exercise can help keep your joints moving, keep the muscles around the joints strong, keep bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy and ultimately improve your ability to perform daily activities. It may also help prevent further joint damage. Q. What exercises should I do? A. The program that is best for you will depend on the type of arthritis you have, which joints are affected and how severe your arthritis is. Your doctor, a physical therapist or rehabilitation specialist can help determine the best exercise program for you. People with arthritis often benefit from range-of-motion, strengthening and endurance exercises. Range-of-motion exercises reduce stiffness and help keep your joints flexible. Controlled stretching promotes a normal range of motion or the amount your joints can be moved in certain directions. Strengthening exercises help maintain or increase muscle strength. You have various options for strengthening exercises, including the use of free weights, machines
