Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs when the protective cartilage on our bones wears down over time. In fact, osteoarthritis is the most common among seniors in the US, and about 10% of seniors with osteoarthritis have osteoarthritis of the knee, making it difficult to move around and perform daily tasks.
Recent research from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine has found that an hour of brisk walking/moderate exercise can help those with osteoarthritis stay healthy and mobile. The study studied 1,500 seniors for 4 years and results show that exercising for at least an hour weekly can help lower the risk of developing mobility-related issues by 85%! The results also show that those who do have osteoarthritis or a similar mobile disbility were able to conitnue to move around
Unfortunately, roughly 25% of the seniors did not participate in any physical activity during the study and after the 4 years of being analyzed, they crossed the street a lot slower than the others and also had issues doing things like brushing their hair or changing their shirt. You can read more about the study here.
Severe pain associated with arthritis can make it difficult to move around, so please consult your doctor before changing your lifestyle or increasing any activity.
