Has your chronic knee pain left you out of a family hike? Does your aching hip keep you from enjoying a round of golf? Does lower back stiffness prevent you from tending to your garden?

If any of these sound familiar, you, like many others, might be suffering from arthritis. In fact, 80% of all 60 year olds will have radiographic evidence of arthritis in at least one joint. It helps to understand that aching joints from arthritis is a part of the normal aging process that afflicts us all in some capacity, rather than a disease. This reframing can help with the self-perpetuating negative thoughts and feelings that when dwelled upon can make our actual condition worse.

Arthritis happens when the cartilage in a joint breaks down and can cause a lot of everyday movements to be painful or difficult. It can occur in a number of different joints, with the load bearing joints being the most common (hips, knees, spine). As a result, a lot of people avoid being active in general for fear of exacerbating their symptoms, or worsening their condition. But that is not the best solution. Doing nothing and avoiding activities will lead to more stiffness and weakness.

The key to managing your arthritis is finding whatever movement or exercise you can do that doesn’t actively cause your pain. Moving through an arthritic joint will secrete synovial fluid which can lubricate the joint to make for smoother movements and provide cushion for shock absorption. Finding low impact activities like walking, cycling, ellipticals, water exercises, and strength training can help to manage your symptoms. Exercise helps to reduce stiffness, strengthen the muscles around the joint, improve flexibility, and can even decrease pain by promoting the release of anti-inflammatory chemicals.

Start each day with a morning stretching or mobility routine to kick start the secretion of synovial fluid for the day. Find the things that you CAN do and keep your body moving. Your joints will thank you for it.

Dr. Vasilauskas has broad experience in treating a variety of orthopedic conditions across all age groups including sport rehab and sports performance training. He is TPI certified and is a certified running gait analyst. Learn more at: www.peakperformancemi.com