Arthritis can improve with Exercise

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ozarks Health

Published Monday, November 5, 2007

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Arthritis can be improved with exerciseNina Rao For the News-Leader This week's expert: Dr. Miriam Borden is a rheumatologist at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach.

Q. What is arthritis? How common is it?

A. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.

It is very common: In 2006, the number of Americans with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms was reported to be 46 million.

Arthritis is one of the nation's leading causes of disability among people older than 15.

Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.

The cost of arthritis in terms of missed hours and medical care totals $128 billion annually.

Q. What are the standard medical treatments for arthritis?

A. Standard treatments are grouped into nonpharmaceutical treatments (such as exercise, biofeedback, physical therapy, weight loss and lifestyle modification) and pharmaceutical ones (anti-inflammatory drugs; steroids; disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine and leflunomide; and biological agents such as infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept).

The goal of arthritis treatment is to reduce pain, prevent deformities, improve quality of life and decrease morbidity and mortality.

Q. Your patients recently organized an event in Osage Beach to help people learn about alternative therapies for arthritis. Have alternative therapies helped any of your patients with their arthritis?

A. Yes. What used to be considered alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, yoga and massage, are now considered complementary therapies. Alternative therapies are those that are used instead of traditional medicine, while complementary therapies are those that are used along with traditional medicine.

Q. How do complementary or alternative therapies such as massage, copper bracelets and magnets help those who suffer from arthritis? Is there any scientific evidence behind any of these treatments?

A. Massage helps people relax, thus decreasing muscle spasms as well as providing heat to the area of the body being massaged. Generally, heat relieves muscle spasms, thus limiting pain, when applied to a particular joint or soft tissue. It also increases the fluidity of the joint fluid, thus limiting stiffness.

Copper bracelets and permanent static magnets, according to scientific studies, do not have an advantage over placebos.

Q. Do diet and exercise have any affect on arthritis?

A. Yes — weight loss decreases stress and the load on joints.

There is no particular diet that can prevent the development of arthritis, except cutting back on alcoholic beverages in cases of gout.

All forms of arthritis are helped by exercise. It improves joint range of motion and thus prevents stiffness and muscle deconditioning.

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Arthritis affects 46 million people according to numbers from 2006, and costs Americans $128 billion annually.News-Leader file photo

Borden

Some types of arthritis

Arthritis comprises more than 100 different diseases and conditions. All forms of arthritis are marked by pain and stiffness, though they may show up in different parts of the body and have different causes.- Gout: A common, painful form of arthritis. It causes swollen, red, hot and stiff joints. Often, gout first attacks a big toe. It can also attack ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows. Gout occurs when uric acid builds up in the blood. This happens if the body produces extra acid or does not eliminate enough, or if you eat too many foods with purines, such as liver and dried beans. At first, gout attacks usually get better in days. Eventually, attacks last longer and occur more often. Uric acid buildup can lead to kidney stones. Untreated gout can cause permanent joint and kidney damage. You can treat gout with medicines.- Osteoarthritis: The most common form of arthritis. It causes pain, swelling and reduced motion in joints. It can occur in any joint, but usually it affects hands, knees, hips or spine. Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in joints. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage absorbs the shock of movement. When you lose cartilage, your bones rub together. Over time, this rubbing can permanently damage the joint. Therapies that manage osteoarthritis pain and improve function include exercise, weight control, rest, pain relief, alternative therapies and surgery.- Rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the arthritis results from your immune system attacking your body's own tissues. It causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint but is common in the wrist and fingers. You might have the disease for only a short time, or symptoms might come and go. The severe form can last a lifetime. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect body parts besides joints, such as your eyes, mouth and lungs. No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis. Genes, environment and hormones might contribute. Treatments include medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis happens in children age 16 or younger.-- Sources: Centers for Disease Control; National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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