For people who live with arthritis, getting up, and moving can seem like a daunting task. Some fear that physical activity will cause their pain to worsen. Researchers are finding the opposite is true. Can the right kind of exercise help reduce pain? According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, chronic pain affects over 100 million adults in the U. S. each year and costs over $635 billion per year in medical treatments and lost productivity.
Did you know walking briskly as little as one hour per week can improve mobility? According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, researchers followed over 1,500 adults (age 49 and older) with lower joint problems caused by osteoarthritis over a period of four years. The study found that participants who received at least an hour of brisk to moderate walking over the course of a week reduced their mobility disability by 85%. Mobility disability means walking too slowly across a street or having difficultly dressing or bathing.
The researchers hope that showing the benefits of 10 minutes a day of walking will motivate people to give exercise a try. Ready to get started? A brisk walk can help you stride toward a healthier future.
Sources:
Gaskin DJ, Richard P. The economic costs of pain in the United States. The Journal of Pain. 2012 Aug 1;13(8):715-24. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92521/
Dunlop DD, Song J, Hootman JM, Nevitt MC, Semanik PA, Lee J, Sharma L, Eaton CB, Hochberg MC, Jackson RD, Kwoh CK. One hour a week: moving to prevent disability in adults with lower extremity joint symptoms. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2019 May 1;56(5):664-72.