World Arthritis Day: Can Exercising Help in Better Management of Arthritis?

Arthritis is a medical condition that causes inflammation in your joints. As a result, you may experience excruciating pain and stiffness. You not only face difficulty in walking, but your movements are also restricted. In order to create awareness about this condition, October 12 is celebrated as World Arthritis Day every year.

On Arthritis Day, you can learn about musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases that can affect your daily life. You may know that obesity and being overweight have direct links to arthritis. So, it is vital to lead an active lifestyle and avoid being sedentary.

Joint problems are one of the key arthritis symptoms. It could result in the following issues. 

• Difficulty in movements 
• Skin turning red around your joints 
• Swelling 
• Fever
• Inability to do normal chores

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Others include septic arthritis, thumb arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. According to statistics, around 45% of women above the age of 65 have osteoarthritis [1]. National Arthritis Day aims to educate people about the pros of an active lifestyle. To understand more about it and learn how World Arthritis Day 2021 was observed, read on.

What Are the Factors That Cause Arthritis?

Several factors can contribute to this condition. It is necessary for you to pay attention to habits that can affect you in the long run. Being obese is one of the reasons for the development of arthritis. As you put on more weight, the burden on your back, hips and feet increases [2].

Another habit seldom noticed is continuous use of smartphones. It can cause stress in your hand joints. Too much texting can affect your shoulders and neck as well. If you wear high heels, it can strain your muscles and joints. In such cases, you have higher risks of developing this condition. If you have had any previous knee injuries, it may also grow into arthritis.

How Is Arthritis Diagnosed and Treated?

Doctors may initially perform a physical examination. Then they may check for redness and swelling in your joints. After that, they may recommend one or more of these arthritis diagnostic tests. 

• X-ray 
• MRI scan
• CT scan 
• Ultrasound 

After diagnosis, your physician may suggest certain arthritis treatments. They may involve using pain relievers, massages therapies, or joint replacement surgeries. All these methods depend on the severity of your condition.

Will Doing Exercises Benefit Arthritis Patients?

Workouts provide necessary nourishment to your cartilage. Besides increasing flexibility of your joints, they also help reduce your joint pain. Avoiding exercises may weaken your muscles and increase the stress on your joints. Consult your doctor to understand what type of exercise may benefit your condition.

Here are some exercises to reduce your joint pain along with their benefits. 

• Walking helps in strengthening your bones and improving your range of motion [3]. 
• Water workouts build your muscle strength and enhance your overall balance.
• Yoga reduces joint inflammation and increases the functioning of your joints.
• Hand stretching exercises improve the flexibility of joints in your hands and minimize pain.
• Strength training exercises increase the power of your bones and muscles.

How Was World Arthritis Day 2021 Celebrated?

This year’s celebration was based on the tagline Don’t Delay, Connect Today. This day was first observed in the year 1996. After that, every year the World Autoimmune Arthritis Day is used to spread awareness about this condition.

This year, the theme was about busting the following myths associated with arthritis.

• It affects only elderly people 
• All joint pains have links to arthritis 
• Using heat is better than ice for joint pain
• It is impossible to prevent this condition

Don’t believe these myths as this condition can affect anyone. While both heat and ice can minimize joint pain, any pain that occurs in your joints is not always due to arthritis.

Now that you are more familiar with this condition, you can easily control arthritis. Keep eating healthy foods and doing physical activities. By meeting a rheumatologist, arthritis problems can be treated and managed properly. Book an appointment on Bajaj Finserv Health and take expert advice from renowned doctors near you. You can opt for an in-person or tele-consultation and address your arthritis symptoms well in time.