| Your bones hang out in a lot of joints. Knee joints. | | | | selves in exercise routines because they do not just |
| Hip joints. The joints in your fingers and the joints in | | | | have time or they have less energy than ever |
| your toes. | | | | before. These are all lame excuses. Hence, it is time |
| Wherever bones meet, there is also cartilage, a | | | | to start to get rid of those pains. Start exercising. |
| rubbery, protective layer that ensures your joints | | | | Consequently, preventing arthritis is not an exact |
| bend smoothly and painlessly. But even cartilage | | | | science, but physicians have discovered a few ways |
| cannot do this tremendous job alone. A thin | | | | to lower your risk. Here is how: |
| membrane called the synovium provides fluid that | | | | 1. Do not weight around |
| lubricates the moving parts of the joint. When the | | | | The single most important measure anyone can take |
| cartilage wears out of the synovium becomes | | | | to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee is to lose |
| inflamed, the result is generally a case of | | | | weight if they are overweight. Extra weight puts |
| osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.? | | | | extra stress on your knees. If you are 10 pounds |
| In osteoarthritis, the cartilage can be eroded so much | | | | overweight, for example, you put 60 pounds per |
| that bone does rub on bone. Thos type of arthritis | | | | square inch of extra pressure on your knees every |
| develops gradually over a lifetime as a simple result | | | | time you take a step. That extra pressure can slowly |
| of the wear and tear placed on your joints over the | | | | but surely erode the cartilage in your knees, leading |
| years. Very few people escape some degree of | | | | to arthritis. |
| osteoarthritis, though the severity varies a great deal. | | | | A study has clearly supported the theory that weight |
| As a matter of fact, if you are over the age of 50, | | | | loss weighs in on the side of prevention. In the study, |
| you are likely to have at least one joint affected by | | | | overweight women who lost 11 pounds or more over |
| osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects men and women | | | | a 10-year period decreased their risk of developing |
| equally and is by far the most common type of | | | | osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%. |
| arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list. | | | | 2. Stretch those muscles |
| In rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the synovium is at | | | | Any kind of stretching is good as long as you do not |
| the source of trouble. Doctors and researchers are | | | | bounce, which can lead to a muscle pull. This is |
| not absolutely sure what causes it, but most think | | | | according to some of the professors of clinical |
| that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the | | | | medicine in New York City. |
| immune system actually attacks certain tissues in the | | | | Try to hold a slow, steady stretch for 15 to 20 |
| body, including those that connect the joints and the | | | | seconds, then relax and repeat. It is best to flex up |
| synovium. | | | | by stretching before any exercise, especially running |
| Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, | | | | and walking. But it is also a good idea to stretch each |
| and painful joints, but it may progress until scar tissue | | | | day. Ask your doctor to teach you stretches that |
| forms in the joint or, in extreme cases, until the | | | | focus on potential arthritis trouble spots, such as the |
| bones actually fuse together. Almost 75% of the 2 | | | | knees or the lower back. |
| million people with rheumatoid arthritis in the United | | | | 3. Walking is always the best exercise |
| States are women. The disease can hit as early as | | | | Take a good long walk at least three times a week |
| teen years. | | | | or participate in a step-aerobics or low-impact |
| Exercising Your Prevention Options | | | | exercise routine maximum results. There is no proof |
| Investing a little time in developing a good | | | | that running is bad for the joints, but remember, it |
| weight-bearing low-impact exercise and stretching | | | | may aggravate an injury if you already have one. |
| plan can add up to great results when it comes to | | | | Just remember to check with your doctor before |
| staving off arthritis pain. Strong muscles help protect | | | | starting a new exercise program. |
| the joints from wear and tear, and the movement | | | | The bottom line is that of all the healthful habits, |
| keeps joints flexible. | | | | exercise is the most important. This is because |
| That is why the quest for fitness is at hand, even if | | | | people are designed to be active. Hence, it is really |
| you are 50 years and over. However, most | | | | important for people to exercise in order to stay |
| Americans over 50 are still right where they always | | | | healthy and keep those joints free from wear and |
| were sitting back and watching others jog by. Most | | | | tear. |
| of them contend that that is just for people who | | | | Just keep in mind that the unexercised body, even if |
| have been athletic all their life, or some say exercise | | | | free from the symptoms of illness or problems like |
| is for young people and engaging into exercise will do | | | | arthritis, is not at its full potential. Hence, start |
| them more harm than good. | | | | exercising right now! |
| There are still some that insist on excusing their | | | | |