For people with arthritis, participating in joint-friendly physical activity can improve pain levels, function, mood and quality of life. These physical activities are low-impact, which means they put less stress on the body, reducing the risk of injury. Examples include walking, biking and swimming. Being physically active can also delay the onset of arthritis-related disability and can help people with arthritis manage other chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Stay as active as your health allows, and modify your activity level (either what you are doing or the length of time you are doing it) depending on your arthritis symptoms.
Are you at risk of overdoing it? Don’t dive in, become a “weekend warrior,” and potentially injure yourself. Start slowly and pay attention to your body. If you’re not already active, start with a small amount of activity, for example, 3 to 5 minutes twice a day. Add activity in 10-minute increments and allow enough time for your body to adjust each time before adding more activity.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention