US Medical Supplies Blog

Those who suffer from arthritis know how painful it can be and how it can put limits on your lifestyle. That’s why it is very important to be able to separate the facts from the common misconceptions about arthritis. To clarify, this post deals specifically with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects more than 27 million Americans, and about two-thirds of those afflicted are under the age of 65. This brings us to our first major point:

Myth: senior citizens are the only people who should be concerned about developing arthritis.

Fact: you do not have to be a senior citizen to suffer from arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is described as an inflammation in the joints as a result of worn cartilage. While it is true that many (or most) senior citizens suffer from arthritis, anyone who puts a significant amount of strain on the joints in their legs or hips can become susceptible. This includes athletes, the overweight, and those with previous joint injuries. Even a person as young as their teens can still have one or more joints that are worn out and in pain. One serious problem with arthritis is that most people experiencing an onset of the symptoms have a tendency to neglect the issue.

Myth: a person in their 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s that experiences pain in their joints can safely ignore it.

Fact: Arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the U.S., and should be treated early.

Unfortunately, the effects of arthritis start out small and progressively worsen. Many consider it a mere nuisance when they start feeling mild amounts of continuing pain in their joints. Instead, they would be better served by having a doctor check them out, diagnose their problem, and start providing solutions. After all, arthritis is incurable and irreversible – all one can do is slow down the progression of the condition. One of the best ways to deal with arthritis is low-impact exercises.

Myth: exercise only seems to cause great pain in the joints affected by arthritis.

Fact: exercise helps those with arthritis in several vital ways.

People with arthritis should know how important it is to remain active. Even though a sufferer of arthritis experiences more pain during and after a workout, the activity keeps the joints flexible and the body strong. Over time, the amount of pain in the affected joints will decrease. Also, obesity is one of the main causes of arthritis, and a healthy diet and exercise routine will result in weight loss, which helps by slowing the progress of the degenerative condition. The best kinds of exercises for those affected by arthritis are low-impact exercises, such as walking, riding a bike, swimming, and stretching.