| 46 million people suffer from arthritis, yet few know | | | | B.) Minimize pain |
| of the ways to control arthritis pain. Learn the myths | | | | C.) Improve your ability to function. |
| behind the disease and your options to a pain free | | | | Exercise can accomplish all of these goals safely. |
| life. | | | | While increasing blood flow and providing important |
| Myth Buster #1: There is just one type of Arthritis | | | | nutrients to your body, functional fitness keeps your |
| There are over 100 types of arthritis including | | | | muscles that surround your joints strong and |
| Osteoarthritis, Gout and Fibromyalgia There are many | | | | diminishes joint pain. So strong that the patient |
| forms of arthritis resulting in joint stiffness, joint | | | | mentioned earlier was able to walk, and once again |
| inflammation and pain: making getting out of bed in | | | | participate in functional activities including going to the |
| the morning agonizing, rising from your chair torture, | | | | bathroom independently. Yes, arthritis, if left |
| or even a once easy task of getting in and out of | | | | untreated, even makes going to the bathroom |
| your car a monumental achievement. I remember a | | | | painful. Functional exercise includes practicing full range |
| 62 year old patient who had such painful joints in her | | | | of motion exercises which makes your body supply |
| knees; the strain of getting up compelled her to sit in | | | | much needed lubrication to your stiff joints. Think of |
| her chair all day. What she didn't realize was that | | | | a door hinge that's stiff and won't move. It just |
| sitting all day was actually making her arthritis | | | | needs a bit of grease and by placing WD 40 to it, |
| condition worse and by the time she sought | | | | the hinge will move. Your body, when placed in |
| treatment she was in a wheelchair and no longer able | | | | therapeutic functional positions produces lubricant. |
| to walk. | | | | With continued practice of a functional exercise |
| Myth Buster # 2: The Only Treatment For Arthritis | | | | program, your body will reward you with an |
| Pain is Pills or Surgery. | | | | increased ability to perform meaningful activities of |
| In order to make an informed decision, you need to | | | | daily living without pain. |
| be armed with the latest in arthritis treatment | | | | Myth Buster # 5. The Best Exercise for Arthritis is |
| choices. Sometimes surgery is necessary, but since | | | | Water Aerobics. |
| surgery is a major event not to be taken lightly, | | | | Water aerobics is an excellent exercise for arthritis |
| other forms of treatment should be explored first. | | | | and I often recommend it to my patients with |
| Medicines are sometimes a necessary evil. Evil | | | | access to a pool and a qualified licensed therapist. |
| because over time they can cause liver toxicity and | | | | However, it should not be the only type of exercise |
| can also increase your susceptibility to life threatening | | | | for arthritis if the goal is to eliminate arthritis pain. In |
| infections. However, on the other hand, they are | | | | order to eliminate and reduce pain you need to be |
| necessary at times because they help alleviate pain. | | | | able to perform exercises that take you through the |
| But what if there was something else that could | | | | full range of motion and unless you're a seagull who |
| alleviate your pain, required no co-payment, enabled | | | | doesn't mind sticking your head under water to bend |
| you to live a full active life and once again enjoy | | | | down, you won't get the full range of motion |
| activities like gardening, shopping, writing a letter or | | | | exercises your body needs with water aerobics. |
| working around the house with renewed energy? | | | | Muscle tissues have a natural tendency to shorten |
| There is a treatment that Doctors once believed | | | | with aging. Muscles must be regularly stretched to |
| would damage your joints and as an Occupational | | | | minimize the effect of natural muscle shortening. |
| Therapy Practitioner, I have seen the miraculous | | | | Flexibility exercises combat the negative effects of |
| results of how functional exercise treatment | | | | stiffness, pain, stress and can significantly improve |
| increases people's functional independence enabling | | | | your life by increasing your functional ability, |
| people to once again enjoy life's simple pleasures. | | | | decreasing pain and turn back your body clock by |
| Myth Buster # 3: People with Arthritis Shouldn't | | | | making your joints younger, healthier and fit. When |
| Exercise | | | | you are flexible, your muscles have a decreased risk |
| For many years Doctors thought that arthritis would | | | | of injury because they are more pliable and less likely |
| damage your joints. Fortunately, many Doctors are | | | | to tear. A lot of men don't stretch, but stretching is |
| now aware of the importance of exercise as an | | | | EQUALLY important for men. No matter how strong |
| important and significant contributing factor to | | | | your muscles are, if your muscles are tight, bending |
| reducing and eliminating arthritis pain. Therapeutic | | | | and reaching will become painful. Wouldn't it be great |
| exercise has proven to be so significant that Doctors | | | | to be able to bend over to reach for any item when |
| often refer their patients to a physical or occupational | | | | it's fallen on the ground without pain and stiffness? |
| therapist for a special functional exercise program to | | | | Functional fitness exercises from a trained expert will |
| increase flexibility, boost energy and improve | | | | get you one stretch closer to being pain free. Some |
| strength. | | | | of my patients told me they never stretched before |
| Myth Buster # 4: Exercise Makes People with | | | | because it hurt. If you're tight, you NEED to stretch |
| Arthritis Experience More Pain. | | | | and strengthen your muscles to support your joints |
| The goal of arthritis exercise treatment is to | | | | and diminish arthritis pain. |
| A.) Reduce inflammation | | | | |