Another Way Exercise Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study described in Medline news seemed to give mysterious theories about strangely different body composition distribution of people with rheumatoid arthritis. What is this mysterious change? The people with the hardest time getting around had "increasing amounts of fat and decreasing amounts of lean mass (skeletal muscle) on the arms and legs."

The authors of the study theorized that the difference altered the "normal range of motion of the arms and legs" or may, "biochemically interfere with muscular function" or even "may be infiltrating the muscles." Perhaps a less mysterious conclusion can be added. Anyone with or without arthritis will have more difficulty and discomfort getting around when they have high fat and low muscle. That is called being out of shape. Being out of shape makes movement difficult. It is not a mystery. Whether being out of shape is not your fault because of a condition does not matter. If someone has arthritis, that is even more reason that they need regular healthful exercise. The study reminded that people with higher fat and lower lean (muscle) can be normal weight. You can be out of shape and too weak to comfortably support body weight at any weight, not only if you are very heavy.

The study authors write," However, since one's body composition can be altered, there is hope to reduce the amount of disability and improve the quality of life of these patients." I have been tracking the topic of this particular study for a while now. Previous studies showing that rheumatoid arthritis patients improved body composition with arthritis drugs were done by people working with and receiving salaries from the drug manufacturer. An obvious and easy way to alter body composition is simple regular fun activity:

Get started on lifestyle exercise:

• How To Join a Free Gym
• Fast Fitness - Figuring Heart Rate Training Range
• Are You Stronger Than A 67 Year Old Lady?
• Household Fitness in the New Year
• Get Better Exercise From Your Chair
• Married 63 Years With Good Balance
• Better Exercise on the Stairs
• Ancient Shoe Exercise for Hip Stretch and Balance
• Getting Stronger Without a Gym
• Getting Stronger is for Everyone
• Better Balance by Christmas

See if pain comes more from ordinary bad habits than arthritis:

• Autumn Yard Work - Limiting the Person Instead of the Injury Again?
• Spotting Back Pain During Running and Walking - What Do Abs Have To Do With It?
• Getting the Right Yoga Medicine
• How a Reader Stopped Recurring Pain, Got Stronger, and Said Aha!
• Is Your Drinking Hurting Your Neck?
• Using Abdominal Muscles is Not Tightening or Pressing Navel to Spine
• Healthier Carrying - Get Free Ab Exercise and Stop Pain
• The Stretch You Need The Least
• Why So Many Aerobics Injuries?

See if common medicines and foods work make pain or problems:

• Stomach Acid Drugs Increase Osteoporosis and Hip Fractures
• Common, Missed Cause of MusculoSkeletal Pain - Your Drugs
  
• Inspiring Update from Jill - Celiac, Knees, Fasciitis, and Restoring Happy Life
• Junk Food Through Your Skin?
• A Little Good Exercise, a Lot of Bad Food - Overweight Still No Mystery
• Healthier Fitness Water
• Is Your Health Food Unhealthful?

What else is exercise good for?

• Regular Exercise Reduces Cold and Flu Incidence
• Exercise and Cancer
• Sinus and Head Colds
• Top Diabetes Treatment is Exercise
• Exercise is More Important Than Calcium Supplements for Bones

Regular exercise will make you able to get around more easily. You do not need exercise machines or expensive programs or therapies. Go walking, dancing, biking, or do whatever activities you love or used to love. If it's hard, remember that Olympic athletes gasp with effort. Top athletes have sore muscles the next day. Being mildly out of breath, and using muscles because of healthy exercise can be good, not bad. Use common sense starting something that will be both fun and healthy.

Labels: arthritis, practice of medicine

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