Accessibility: Tips for Dealing with Arthritis

As the cooler weather rolls in people who have arthritis will benefit from the information offered by Dr. Gary Malstrom, a Burlington, Ontario based chiropractor and acupuncturist.

Years ago, doctors hardly ever told arthritis patients to “go take a hike” or “go for a swim.” Arthritis was considered an inherent part of the aging process and a signal to a patient that it was time to slow down. Not any more!

Recent research and clinical findings show that there is much more to life for arthritis patients than the traditional recommendations of bed rest and drug therapy. Read on to find out how exercise can reduce your pain and dependency on medication.

Should Arthritis Patients Exercise?

Exercise is critical in successful arthritis management. It helps maintain healthy and strong muscles, joint mobility, flexibility, endurance, and helps control weight. Rest, on the other hand, helps to decrease active joint inflammation, pain, and fatigue. For best results, arthritis patients need a good balance between the two: rest during the active phase of arthritis is appropriate and exercise whenever possible. During acute flare-ups, patients should put joints gently through their full range of motion once a day, with periods of rest.

Range-of-motion exercises, e.g. stretching and dance, help to maintain normal joint movement and increase joint flexibility
Strengthening exercises, including light weights or Theraband exercises, help to improve muscle strength. This is important to support and protect joints affected by arthritis, and should be done every other day, unless pain and swelling are severe.
Aerobic or endurance exercises such as walking, bicycle riding, and swimming help to improve the cardiovascular system, muscle tone and weight control. Swimming is especially valuable because of its minimal risk of stress injuries and low impact on the body.
If you experience unusual or persistent fatigue, increased weakness, decreased ranges of motion, increased joint swelling or pain that lasts longer than an hour after exercising you need to talk to a professional.

Can Chiropractic or Acupuncture Help?

Spinal adjustments can be very helpful to restore the lost mobility to stiff and painful spinal joints
Exercise can help to restore the lost range of motion to your joints, as well as improve your strength and flexibility
Acupuncture can also be very helpful to alleviate the pain associated with arthritis

(Information submitted by Dr. Gary Malstrom).
Phone: 905.681.3342
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