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When we think of arthritis we tend to think of it as a disease that older people get. But this is not so. It is now believed it begins its relentless course which is initially painless when you are still in your 30's, 20's or even younger. Most of the time nothing seems wrong until you get into your 40's or 50's and you begin to feel aches and pains, signs that the disorder may be starting to erode away your bones. Painful joints have a major impact on the daily life and activities of arthritis sufferers as stiffness and pain tends to persist for much of the time. It can stop people being active as they are less likely to want to pursue exercise options or sporting activities. Proper strengthening exercise that directly works the muscles to help support damaged joints is essential yet many sufferers tend to choose medication over exercise. Proper exercise should be the core treatment for the disease whatever the age, level of disability or severity of pain. Strength training exercise is perfect for this condition as it is low-impact, gets the joints moving so the nourishing and lubricating synovial fluid is pushed into the joint and strengthens the muscles around the affected joint taking some of the load off it. It is unfortunate that many arthritis sufferers choose medication to simply mask the pain when a proper strengthening exercise program has so many benefits. Increased mobility can allow more general activity to be undertaken so life can be lived to the fullest and can mean more independence long term. Being more active counters depression and anxiety which is a crucial part of treatment as it is hard to have quality of life when one is depressed and anxious. Excess body (fat) weight putting more loading on damaged joints can be lost when muscles are toned up and the metabolism (the body's engine) is boosted. Strength training exercise can improve your overall strength, increase energy, maintain or even increase bone strength, give you more stamina and endurance to get through the day, make you feel better about yourself and improve your sense of well-being. Although you may think that exercise will aggravate your joint pain and stiffness if the right exercise is undertaken such as strength training that is not the case. Low intensity repetitive activities may well make things worse as they do not address the cause of the problem - lack of muscle strength around the joint leading to excessive wear and tear on joint surfaces over a period of time. By not doing appropriate exercise will in turn make joints even more stiff and painful because keeping the muscles and surrounding joint tissue strong is crucial to maintaining strong support for your bones and joints. This is even more crucial when they are already damaged. Make sure you seek the help of a fitness professional to set up your program so it is safe and effective so time is not wasted on activity that will not give you the most 'bang for your buck'. It will take a couple of months of regular training to get those muscles taking the load off those damaged joints. But when they do you will be amazed at how well this simple solution works. All it takes from you is 2-3 sessions each week of your time and effort, not much to give to get so much back, I think you will agree.
Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body, regaining lost vitality and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook 'I Have Found the Fountain of Youth - Let Me Show You Too!" http://www.over50looking30.com Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who in her nearly 30 years of fitness and bodybuilding competition experience she has helped thousands of people start their journey towards losing weight, becoming strong, fit and youthful at any age. Sign up for her free newsletter on Weight Loss Tips http://FitnessWeightloss.com and get her free report 'Discover ‘Secrets That Most People Will Never Know About To Really Lose Weight".
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