Move Your Joints For Good Health

Arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic pain and disability in the US. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which usually affects knees, hips, and hands. Other joints are also commonly affected. The journal Arthritis & Rheumatism reported that about 27 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Arthritis can also affect our dogs, especially senior dogs.

Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight are two of the best treatments for arthritis. A new article in the journal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation highlights the important role that regular aerobic and strengthening exercise have for both preventing osteoarthritis and reducing pain and disability once osteoarthritis has occurred.

Don’t believe the research that exercising makes joints feel better? Just see what happens when you have to spend a couple days in bed with some viral illness. When you feel better and get up and moving, you’ll probably feel pretty stiff and achy all over. That pain comes from just a couple days of not moving muscles and joints. This is also the reason astronauts need to exercise when they’re in space. Muscles and joints function best and are maintained healthiest when they get used regularly.

Several larger dog breeds are more prone to developing arthritis: