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Arthritis

Most of us know someone who has arthritis. Over 40 million Americans experience some type of arthritis during some point in their lives. Arthritis is a painful disease that breaks down the cartilage in the joints. When the cartilage in a joint is broken down and degenerates there is no cushion for the bones and they begin to rub and grind on each other causing pain. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most common. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage begins to degenerate in various joints. It is found typically in the hands, spine, hips, and knees. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks the joint tissues. There are various symptoms that are displayed when an individual has arthritis. They include, joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. Symptoms can include: joint pain, joint swelling, reduced ability to move the joint, redness of the skin around a joint, stiffness, especially in the morning, and warmth around a joint. Unfortunately there is no cure or treatment for this disease. That does not mean that once you have arthritis that your life is over and you shouldn't do anything about it. Exercise can reduce pain. Weight training or resistance training helps maintain muscle strength around the affected joint which can help stabilize the joint and reduce pain in the joint. It can also reduce joint stiffness when you are involved in a full ROM flexibility program. It helps prevent functional decline and improves mental health along with quality of life. So what does an exercise program look like for someone with arthritis? The individual should participate in aerobic exercise 3-5 days a week. Aerobic exercises that are low impact on the joints should be used such as swimming, cycling,

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