With Ben Basser-Silk
Osteoarthritis is a condition that is characterised by chronic joint inflammation and pain. The condition affects all aspects of the joint, including cartilage, bone, ligament and muscles. People with osteoarthritis will experience symptoms of pain, stiffness, swelling, joint instability and muscular weakness.
Exercise has many benefits for osteoarthritis. People who participate in regular exercise experience reductions in pain and improvements in physical function and quality of life. Often osteoarthritis is coupled with other health conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity and conditions such as kidney disease and heart disease. With such conditions exercise poses additional benefits to those with osteoarthritis.
Exercise therapy for osteoarthritis should include both a strength training component and an aerobic component. Examples of strength training include group exercise classes, lifting weights and doing bodyweight exercises and should be conducted two to three times per week. Aerobic exercise includes activities such as walking, cycling, running and swimming and they should be conducted a minimum of five times per week for at least 30 minutes in total per day. For people who have been diagnosed with any form of arthritis it is important that you discuss with our accredited exercise physiologist or one of our physiotherapists about joining our tailored exercise class, Funny Bones.
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