New research has shown that one out of every person that is 60 years old is struggling with osteoarthritis. According to the same study, four of out every 70 years old are plagued with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the joints. It is a condition in which there is an erosion of the cartilages of the joints, which makes friction occur between the adjacent bones. This elicits pain for the individual and affects the quality of life. Walking and working becomes very difficult. The pain is somewhat related to weather, and it is commonly felt in the neck, hands, hips, lower bank, and knees.
In order to alleviate this condition, surgery could be done. This will see the individual getting a joint replacement or arthroscopy. Medications such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to alleviate the pain, as well as, analgesics, dietary supplements, narcotics, or medical marijuana in States where it is legal.
Weight loss has been seen to be the solution for lots of medical conditions in people that are overweight. It is also efficient in people suffering from osteoarthritis. Icepacks can be used at intervals, but the more advantageous solution seems to be walking. This is not meant to be just aimless walking, and it is meant to be practiced as an exercise. This means it will be planned, repetitive, and done regularly.
The fact is that osteoarthritis can become debilitating to the extent it renders patients with osteoarthritis disabled. However, in recent research, it has been shown that walking remarkably reduces the risk of becoming immobilized. Those who didn’t walk at all were seen struggling with crossing the road in between traffic light changes.
Below are the beneficial reasons for walking, especially for individuals who have osteoarthritis:
Walking Strengthens The Bones And Muscles
There is an increase in the density of the bones, making it stronger than before. Most people may tend to forget that bone is also a living tissue. It may not be growing as rapidly as some other tissue in the body, but it also experiences growth. Whenever one starts exercising, when you start walking regularly, bones begin to enjoy subtle growth that makes it stronger.
On the muscles, it improves their flexibility and strength. Muscles are known to grow tougher and stronger when they are exercised commonly. The muscles of the joints get more blood perfusion, receives more nutrient, and consequently improves the health of the joint, although one should stretch before and after walking to prevent pain.
Walking Burns Calories And Helps In Losing Weight
When you walk consistently, you begin to lose weight gradually. The osteoarthritis individuals experience may even be improved drastically as a result of weight loss. If one has osteoarthritis, walking can be done for about an hour or at least half an hour.
Healthcare professionals even advise that people should count steps rather than the amount of time they walk. This sets a daily or weekly target for people. This way if one has to walk as much as 5000 steps, such a goal can be monitored and evaluated.
Therefore, if one’s goal has not been achieved, a little extra effort can see it completed. The satisfaction from finishing one’s steps can be very fulfilling as stress-relieving hormones are released, which can further alleviate the osteoporotic condition. People can now use smartphones to count the number of steps they take, making it much easier for one to verify the number of steps taken each day.
Walking Relaxes And Gives One A Much Satisfying Sleep
Healthcare providers have encouraged people to take evening strolls as they tend to provide a more relaxing night rest. After sweating from walking, you can take a warm bath, and this will soothe your joints and relieve your inflammation from osteoarthritis. The pain of osteoarthritis on its own can keep one awake, but when one walks steadily, sleeping starts getting better as the pain begins to disappear. It may appear stupid to be working joints that are already swollen or painful, but walking does improve pain. Most people who have trouble sleeping struggle because of pain and walking is an excellent way to make that pain go away.
Walking Provides An Energy Boost
Again, walking seems to be stressful, especially for someone with joint pain. Imagine someone with knee pain walking with that same knee? However, research has shown that low-intensity exercise boosts energy levels dramatically when done routinely. People with osteoarthritis may feel easily fatigued, but as they walk, their energy goes up, and pain subsides. Walking has been observed to be the best non-pharmacological form of management for osteoarthritis.
Walking Prevents Falling And Increases One’s Stability
Research conducted over four years among patients struggling with osteoarthritis showed undeniable evidence that people’s balance increases with consistent walking. Walking regularly strengthens the bones and muscles, and improves the functioning of the nervous system. All these benefits make osteoarthritis loosen its hold on affecting the stability of patients, consequently preventing people from falling. This is one of the reasons walking is encouraged with patients combatting osteoarthritis.
Walking Helps In The Protection Of One’s Cartilage
Once osteoarthritis ensues, it is irreversible, but one can still preserve what’s left with walking. There’s considerable stiffness accompanying osteoarthritis, which walking alleviates and improves over time. Even when surgery is done, a physical therapy like walking is influential in restoring the lost cartilage.
Walking Is Good For One’s Health
Walking strengthens a unique muscle of the body that is crucial for good health. The heart is a specialized muscle in the body, and when a considerable amount of walking is done, one’s heart gets better circulation. As much as the heart pumps blood to every part of the body, it also pumps about five percent for itself for its sustenance. The increase in the amount of nutrient and oxygen being supplied to the heart makes it healthier. The better the health of the heart, the better the overall health.
Osteoarthritis affects the quality of life. Walking is a proven way to get your life back. Why not start today with a few steps for some minutes, and begin the journey to getting your life back.
