| We often hear about the dangers of heart disease | | | | has the supportive affect from strong firm muscles. |
| and how we can protect our heart and its pipes by | | | | Weak, flabby thin muscles cannot protect the joints |
| increasing our fitness. But we rarely hear about how | | | | from literally wearing themselves away like an engine |
| we can safeguard our joints from the incapacitating | | | | without oil. Without that support from the muscles the |
| condition called arthritis that can downgrade the quality | | | | cartilage wears excessively just from everyday |
| of our life as we grow older by a far greater degree. | | | | activities. |
| Arthritis is a term that covers more than one hundred | | | | As this condition progresses and worsens debilitating |
| conditions that involve the joint - the moving part | | | | pain leads to an even more inactive and sedentary |
| where a bone meets another bone such as the knee | | | | lifestyle. This then exposes people with this condition to |
| or the elbow. Although arthritis can impair the last third | | | | the increased risk of other serious health conditions like |
| of a persons life it can start at a young age and be | | | | heart disease or diabetes or many others. |
| smoldering away as early as the twenties or thirties. | | | | Strength training exercise is especially beneficial to |
| But it is not until you reach your forties or fifties that | | | | people with arthritis because it keeps the bones, |
| joints begin to stiffen and movement becomes painful. | | | | muscles and joints healthy. It has long been recognized |
| Joint cartilage is a rubber like tissue at the end of our | | | | that proper muscle building and maintaining exercise |
| bones that allow for smooth movement of our limbs | | | | can improve physical function and reduce pain thereby |
| and to absorb shock from the rigors of daily living. | | | | improving quality of life. But research shows that |
| When this cartilage wears away the result is loss of | | | | people with this condition have a much lower rate of |
| motion, stiffness and pain. It eventually can result in | | | | participation in proper exercise than people without |
| disability and needing to depend on others. | | | | arthritis. |
| We know now that it is not overuse that is the cause | | | | It is important to see health problems such as arthritis |
| of arthritis but rather 'disuse'. A lifestyle that does not | | | | as a reason to start and continue a proper strength |
| include enough strength building and maintaining activity | | | | training exercise program rather than as an obstacle |
| gradually reduces the ranges of motion of the joint | | | | or barrier preventing exercise. Get some help from a |
| starving the cartilage of the fluid it needs to be healthy. | | | | fitness professional as it is important that time is not |
| It is only with movement that lubrication is stimulated | | | | wasted on unsafe and ineffective exercise. In just a |
| and nutrients can be absorbed and waste can be | | | | few months strong muscles will take up their support |
| removed. You cannot move easily and pain free if | | | | positions and take the weight and pressure off those |
| your joints are not healthy. | | | | poor suffering joints. |
| Keeping your muscular system strong is vital to either | | | | Although this condition is the result of lifestyle choices |
| prevent or manage arthritis. Strong muscles, tendons | | | | made and not made years or decades ago it is never |
| and ligaments support, cushion and protect the joints | | | | too late to slow the progression of the disease down. |
| even those that are weak and already damaged from | | | | When you get some relief from pain and stiffness you |
| arthritis. Muscle wasting from inactivity has a huge | | | | may enjoy the many enjoyable activities that our |
| negative impact on this condition as the joint no longer | | | | exciting modern world has to offer. |