As you get older, arthritis is one of the conditions that can pop up. There are many different kinds of arthritis, but all of them pose a risk to your mobility. However, just because you have arthritis doesn’t mean you can’t live an active lifestyle. The key is to keep your arthritis under control to preserve your ability to get around.
At Orthopedic Associates of Wisconsin, our team are experts in diagnosing and treating many different kinds of arthritis. Leading our team is Dr. Mitchell Klement, an orthopedic specialist. Dr. Klement helps you understand how to keep your arthritis symptoms in check so you can continue living your active life.
Although arthritis is a common condition, it’s not always completely understood. Arthritis isn’t one single condition — in fact, it’s a broad term that encompasses over 100 forms of the disease. The term arthritis is actually meant to describe pain in your joint or joint disease in your body.
Of the hundreds of forms of arthritis, there are a few that are more common than others. Some of the most common categories of arthritis include:
Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative arthritis that affects the cushioning in your joints. Over time, it wears away the cartilage which helps to protect your bones in the joint. This can lead to pain and inflammation, as well as permanent joint damage.
Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an inflammatory arthritis. This condition happens when your immune system mistakenly targets and attacks the lining in your joints. This often leads to uncontrolled inflammation and swelling, along with pain and damage in the joint.
Arthritis can lead to permanent joint problems and deformities if it’s left untreated. It’s very important to find out what’s causing pain in your joints, so you can avoid complications down the road.
Physical activity is very important when you’re suffering from arthritis. It helps you not only stay in shape, but may ease your symptoms as well. Activity also improves your mobility and overall mood, which is very important when dealing with a chronic condition.
So how do you stay physically active with arthritis? One of the ways you can do this is with low-impact exercise. You want your activities to be low impact, because it helps reduce the load on your joints and helps prevent further injury. Some of the low-impact activities that you can enjoy with arthritis include:
All of these activities are great for keeping your body active while dealing with arthritis. These activities can actually help you reduce pain and inflammation in your joints, while promoting normal motion and mobility.
Light weight training can also be a vital part of your physical activity. Strength training helps to keep the muscles around your joints strong, which in turn protects them from injury. It also helps give your joints the support they need to work properly.
However, it’s important that you don’t push your physical activity too hard, too fast. Ease into exercise when you’re dealing with arthritis, and make sure to rest or stop if you feel pain or discomfort in your joints.
You may need to pair light physical activity with other forms of treatment to help best manage your arthritis. Dr. Klement assesses your symptoms and overall condition to determine what other treatments can help you slow your arthritis so you can continue to live a happy and active life.
Don’t let arthritis get you down — call our office today at 262-223-3040 to schedule a consultation, or you can book an appointment online today to get help from Dr. Klement.
