Once upon a time, doctors could be counted on to offer advice that at least seemed to make sense. If a patient had arthritic joint pain, she would be told to try to use the aching joint less. But now comes a story in the Wall Street Journal reporting that the best thing for some joint pain is joint movement. The story quotes Kate Lorig, director of the Patient Education Research Center at Stanford University, warning that "the most dangerous exercise you can do when you have arthritis is none." The paper reports that while mild exercise can be painful for osteoarthritis patients, the benefits of exercise accumulate as reduced pain and greater mobility, and strengthening the muscles around the knees or hip can help support the joints and take over some of the shock-absorbing functions played by cartilage.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Sunday, June 1, 2025