The average age of the study participants was 74 and all had osteoarthritis. They exercised three times a week with a fitness trainer in sessions designed to increase joint flexibility, muscle strength and endurance. Participants did warm-ups and aerobic sessions on a stationary bike or treadmill in addition to weight resistance exercise. The research points to the value of regular exercise as part of a sound treatment plan for osteoarthritis, according to the Arthritis Research Institute of America (ARIA), the Clearwater, FL not-for-profit organization that completed the study. “We’ve heard the cliché that ‘motion is lotion’ and, in this case, we can see that those who continued being active reaped a huge benefit from sticking with exercise,” said Frances Vaughn Wilder, PhD, the study’s lead researcher and ARIA’s executive director. “An active lifestyle can ease the pain and immobility of osteoarthritis for the millions of sufferers who are looking for relief from their symptoms.” Osteoarthritis, which is the “wear and tear” form of arthritis, affects 27 million Americans after the age of 50. The study that correlates the effects of obesity in the peer-reviewed Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. Since 1988, the Arthritis Research Institute of America (ARIA) has been studying thousands of participants to learn more about osteoarthritis. The 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit research organization is based in Clearwater, FL., but its findings have been published worldwide. ARIA’s x-ray database is globally acknowledged as one of the most complete sources of information about the progression of osteoarthritis. For information, call (727) 461-4054.
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Osteoarthritis (OA) Bring Out the Flip-Flops and Sneakers, Better for Osteoarthritis Hope For Those With Osteoarthritis Knee Pain |
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Sticking with an exercise program is a good idea for cardiovascular health, but it’s also valuable as pain relief from osteoarthritis. A study of 109 adults older than 40 found that those who stuck with their exercise regimen reported a 7.8 percent decrease in their osteoarthritis pain after the first year and a 10.7 percent decrease in pain after their second year of exercising. 
