Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A recent large study on arthritis published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism suggests that physical inactivity could double an arthritis sufferer’s risk of being unable to do everyday tasks, such as dressing, eating, bathing, and cooking.

In the study, people who engaged in regular vigorous exercise, no matter how well they functioned at the start of the study, were least likely to lose functional abilities. The authors considered vigorous exercise to be activities such as sports and heavy housework done at least three times a week.

More Arthritis Results
Here are some other recent findings:

• Many studies have found that exercise helps people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis boost their flexibility, physical function, aerobic capacity, and strength.
• An eight-week exercise program decreased stiffness and reduced pain in older people with knee or hip osteoarthritis. The program included aerobic walking, strength training, range-of-motion exercises, and group discussions.
• A review of several studies reported that aerobic walking and quadriceps-strengthening exercises, such as squatting, can lessen pain and disability among women and men with knee osteoarthritis.

Activities that Beat Arthritis
What kind of exercise is best? Experts recommend swimming, fast walking, table tennis, low-impact aerobics, dancing, and bike riding. Try to avoid activities such as running, high-impact aerobics, and contact sports. These can cause injury and worsen arthritic pain.

What You Need to Know
How much do you know about living with and treating arthritis? Test yourself.