Does Walking Help Arthritis Sufferers?

People with arthritis are finding that exercise offers them a multitude of benefits.

Nothing beats a nice walk on a warm spring day. At one time, it was thought that exercises such as walking weren’t good for people with arthritis. But according to the Arthritis Foundation, it is now believed that walking is good for everyone. People with arthritis are finding that exercise offers them a multitude of benefits.

In Oklahoma, nearly 1 in 3 people have arthritis, a condition that affects the joints and tissues surrounding the joints. For those with rheumatoid arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, walking is an excellent way to get the body moving.

Walking is an endurance exercise; it strengthens your heart, helps your lungs work more efficiently and gives you more stamina so that you don’t tire as easily. As a weight-bearing exercise, walking helps fortify bones, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. This is especially important if you’re taking glucocorticoids for your arthritis, which can weaken bones.

Walking also increases your muscular capacity and helps maintain joint flexibility. Muscle and joint benefits are critical to people with arthritis, because inactivity causes stiff joints and weakened muscles. When muscles and tissues surrounding the joints are stronger, the joints are better protected and more prepared for daily activities.

In addition to the physical benefits, walking offers a host of psychological perks. Regular exercise helps you sleep better, controls your weight and lifts your spirits. It can play an important role in combating depression, fatigue and stress, which often accompany arthritis.

Before you begin an exercise regimen, confer with a doctor to find the right treatment for your condition.

Then get moving, and before you know it, you’ll be miles down the road toward a healthier you.

Hundreds of arthritis sufferers will be participating in the Northeast Oklahoma Arthritis Foundation’s Arthritis Walk on May 4 at Tulsa’s Whiteside Park. To prepare for this walk, you can begin by downloading your own 12-week walking plan from the Arthritis Foundation’s website, www.arthritis.org. The plan serves as a guide to help you progress in your walking endurance, no matter what level you’re currently at. Experts suggest starting slow, and soon you'll be amazed at how far you can go. Call to join the walkers on May 4 at (918) 495-3553.

The Arthritis Foundation’s mission is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases. The Arthritis Foundation supports research with the greatest potential for advances and has invested nearly $370 million in these efforts since its inception in 1948.

Additionally, the Arthritis Foundation supports key public policy and advocacy efforts at a local and national level, in order to make a difference on behalf of millions of people living with arthritis.

The information in this article is courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation’s Complimentary brochure “Walking and Arthritis.”

For more information, contact

Arthritis Foundation

(918) 495-3553

www.arthritis.org