| The key to success in eradicating pain is to reduce | | | | on their shoes. |
| the risk factors that can accelerate it and maximize | | | | Some people try to protect their joints by minimizing |
| the factors that slow its progression. We can do this | | | | their movements. This is wrong. Muscles that are not |
| by adopting a lifestyle that is arthritis-friendly -by | | | | exercised weaken quickly, reducing their ability to |
| maintaining proper exercise, supplements, and a | | | | support joints adequately. As a result, the range of |
| healthy diet. | | | | movement becomes more and more limited and |
| Arthritis is known as the sneak thief of mobility and | | | | muscles shut down. |
| for good reasons. As the body's cartilage is worn | | | | Strong muscles are also crucial both for preventing |
| away after a couple of years, a cascade of changes | | | | the onset of arthritis and for reducing its symptoms. |
| takes place in the muscular-skeletal system that | | | | Muscle mass declines as people get older. As a result, |
| eventually robs individuals of flexibility, endurance and | | | | the average 70-year-old has lost at least 30 percent |
| strength. This gradual destruction triggers a disabling | | | | of the muscle mass and strength he or she had at |
| downward spiral. Movement becomes painful, so | | | | forty. Weak muscles make it difficult to balance the |
| people become less active, and this in turn makes it | | | | body properly when moving or standing still, and can |
| more difficult to remain mobile. Eventually, some | | | | lead to early fatigue. Minor physical exertions like |
| people can't even perform simple tasks like walking | | | | carrying groceries become difficult. |
| up the stairs or opening a jar. | | | | Hence, exercise will not only slow the progression of |
| The good news is, you can reverse this disabling | | | | arthritis but may also prevent its onset. Sound |
| cascade of cartilage changes through flexibility and | | | | exercise programs can aid in reversing this harmful |
| proper exercise. Flexibility forms the basis for | | | | cascade of changes that lead to a loss of muscle |
| endurance and strength; it is the first casualty in the | | | | strength and joint flexibility. Modern scientific studies |
| downward cascade. This factor is vital for the health | | | | have shown that yoga is effective because its |
| of joints because it enables them to move as far as | | | | postures and controlled breathing give high levels of |
| possible in all directions without experiencing pain. | | | | oxygen to nourish our muscles, tendons, ligaments, |
| Arthritis robs joints of their range of motion. As it | | | | and other tissues. But although full-scale yoga and |
| develops, the normally smooth cartilage roughens, | | | | Pilates are the most effective methods for |
| causing distortions, pitting, and eventually, breakage. | | | | maximizing joint health, they both have certain |
| With this disease, familiar movements become | | | | positions and movements that can traumatize weak |
| difficult. For instance, people who knit end up with | | | | joints. Ask your instructor or physician for modified |
| stiff wrists when they do their craft. For others, the | | | | versions of these exercises. |
| loss of motion is so great, that they can't even put | | | | |