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Anna Dove
Anna Dove is the Director of Aquatics and Wellness at Chaucer Estates Retirement and Assisted Living. She is a certified Red Cross Trainer & Instructor and Arthritis Foundation Trainer & Instructor. Besides working with Chaucer's residents in land & water fitness programs, Anna utilizes the Chaucer pool facility for instructing Water Safety, Life Guarding, specialized aquatic training for Triathlon and she specializes in Aquatics for special needs children. You can reach Anna Dove at Chaucer Estates, (316) 630-8111
Senior Living
2004-04-01 08:46:00
Arthritis and exercise
:  My poor dad suffers so badly from Arthritis. He's tried every product on the market to find some relief from the pain. I've heard of special exercise programs designed especially for arthritis sufferers. What's the scoop?
ANSWER:  One in every six people, or over 43 million Americans suffer from some form of Arthritis. Arthritis is joint inflammation, affecting one or more aspects of the joint depending on the type of rheumatic disease, of which there are over 100. Rheumatic diseases are inflammation or degeneration of the connective tissue structures in the body, especially the joints and structures, such as muscles, bursae, tendons, and fibrous tissue. Symptoms vary from person to person depending on the type of disease and degree of involvement but the common symptoms are pain stiffness and limited motion of the joint. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America.It was thought for many years that if you had arthritis you should not exercise because it would damage your joints. However, research has shown that exercise is an essential tool in managing arthritis as well as other ailments. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness, builds strong muscle around the joints, and increases flexibility and endurance.  It also helps promote overall health and fitness by giving more energy, muscle and bone strength, cardiovascular fitness, endurance, aiding in weight control, improving appearance, posture, balance & coordination, circulation, function, increasing the ability to perform daily and recreational activities, quality of sleep, and a sense of well being and self esteem with less stress & depression. Furthermore, exercise can help stave off other health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease.Starting an exercise program can seem like a daunting proposition. An exercise program can include anything from walking around the block, taking a yoga class, or playing a round of golf. The important thing to remember is to start slow and make it fun. It is always good to start with flexibility exercises, which are basically stretching exercises that will improve the range of motion. Range of motion exercises help maintain or improve joint movement and flexibility and relieve stiffness. They target all tissues of the joint; each joint can be moved in a defined distance in specific directions. For example, the elbow moves to bend, straighten, and rotate the forearm (pronate and supinate). People with arthritis should try to move each joint function to minimize stiffness. Joints that are inflamed or damaged by arthritis often have limitation in range of motion. Arthritis sufferers may experience increased pain as they move especially at the extremes of joint movement, due to shortening of the tendons, muscles, and ligaments around the joint. Ranges of motion exercises are performed in a steady rhythm for ease of movement and mobility, and to increase flexibility. These exercises are passive, active assistive and active.Being in pain may lead to reluctance to exercise. A water exercise program is a great place to begin. In the water the body's buoyancy reduces stress on hips, knees and the spine. Water exercise programs help develop a better range of motion for joints and include muscle-strengthening exercises as well.With any exercise program, always consult with your doctor before starting out. Two other types of health professionals that can help develop an exercise program to fit specific needs are a physical and an occupational therapist. A physical therapist will demonstrate the proper techniques and precautions when performing certain types of exercise. An occupational therapist can assist in learning to perform daily activities without putting additional stress on joints. They can also provide splints or assistive devices that can make working out more comfortable.
 
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