|
People with osteoarthritis can enjoy good health
despite having the disease. How? By learning self-care skills
and developing a "good-health attitude."
Self-care is central to successfully managing
the pain and disability of osteoarthritis. People have a much
better chance of having a rewarding lifestyle when they educate
themselves about the disease and take part in their own care.
Working actively with a team of health care providers enables
people with the disease to minimize pain, share in decisionmaking
about treatment, and feel a sense of control over their lives.
Research shows that people with osteoarthritis who take part
in their own care report less pain and make fewer doctor visits.
They also enjoy a better quality of life.
Self-Management Programs Do
Help
People with osteoarthritis find that self-management
programs help them
- Understand the disease
- Reduce pain while remaining active
- Cope physically, emotionally, and mentally
- Have greater control over the disease
- Build confidence in their ability to live an
active, independent life.
|
Self-Help and Education Programs:
Three kinds of programs help people learn about osteoarthritis,
learn self-care, and improve their good-health attitude. These
programs include
- Patient education programs
- Arthritis self-management programs
- Arthritis support groups.
These programs teach people about osteoarthritis,
its treatments, exercise and relaxation, patient and health
care provider communication, and problem solving. Research
has shown that these programs have clear and long-lasting
benefits.
Exercise: Regular physical activity
plays a key role in self-care and wellness. Two types of exercise
are important in osteoarthritis management. The first type,
therapeutic exercises, keep joints working as well as possible.
The other type, aerobic conditioning exercises, improve strength
and fitness, and control weight. Patients should be realistic
when they start exercising. They should learn how to exercise
correctly, because exercising incorrectly can cause problems.
Most people with osteoarthritis exercise best
when their pain is least severe. Start with an adequate warmup
and begin exercising slowly. Resting frequently ensures a
good workout. It also reduces the risk of injury. A physical
therapist can evaluate how a patient's muscles are working.
This information helps the therapist develop a safe, personalized
exercise program to increase strength and flexibility.
Many people enjoy sports or other activities in
their exercise program. Good activities include swimming and
aquatic exercise, walking, running, biking, cross-country
skiing, and using exercise machines and exercise videotapes.
People with osteoarthritis should check with their
doctor or physical therapist before starting an exercise program.
Health care providers will suggest what exercises are best
for you, how to warm up safely, and when to avoid exercising
a joint affected by arthritis. Pain medications and applying
ice after exercising may make exercising easier.
| Exercises for Osteoarthritis
People with osteoarthritis should do different
kinds of exercise for different benefits to the body. |
Body, Mind, Spirit: Making the most
of good health requires careful attention to the body, mind,
and spirit. People with osteoarthritis must plan and develop
daily routines that maximize their quality of life and minimize
disability. They also need to evaluate these routines periodically
to make sure they are working well.
Good health also requires a positive attitude.
People must decide to make the most of things when faced with
the challenges of osteoarthritis. This attitude--a good-health
mindset--doesn't just happen. It takes work, every day. And
with the right attitude, you will achieve it.
Enjoy a "Good-Health Attitude"
- Focus on your abilities instead of disabilities.
- Focus on your strengths instead of weaknesses.
- Break down activities into small tasks that
you can manage.
- Incorporate fitness and nutrition into daily
routines.
- Develop methods to minimize and manage stress.
- Balance rest with activity.
- Develop a support system of family, friends,
and health professionals.
|
Current
Research
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Be sure to visit the Glucosamine Product Guide for a review of commercially available glucosamine products broken down by 9 different categories such as price per month, quality and type. Learn what the best products out there are and what criteria was used to ranked each.
|
