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Joint Maneuvers Don't
join the half of all people over 65 with arthritis. Although it's true that the more than 100 types of arthritis are most common in the elderly, this painful and debilitating condition is far from restricted to retirees, and it's definitely not inevitable. As many as 200,000 children have arthritis, and there's much that you can do in your middle years to avoid becoming one of the one in two Americans over 65 who have it. What is arthritis? The two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The first is a general deterioration from wear and tear of the cartilage in joints, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system disease that causes inflammation in the joint and destruction of both cartilage and bone. Symptoms of arthritis include any of the following that last for two weeks or more: joint swelling, early morning stiffness, pain or tenderness in a joint, loss of joint movement, redness or warmth of a joint, or unexplained weight loss, fever, or weakness accompanied by joint pain. Treatments are tailored to the particular form of arthritis, so it's important to have a diagnosis by a rheumatologist. Most types of arthritis, however, have one treatment in common: a careful combination of low-impact exercise and rest. Walking, in particular, is one of the most widely recommended remedies for arthritis. Numerous studies have shown that people with arthritis who begin an exercise program regain the ability to participate in many activities, suffer less pain, and have improved moods. As a matter of fact, exercise is also the main prescription for avoiding arthritis. A program of regular, moderate endurance exercise and weight training in your middle years offers several important protective effects: It helps you avoid gaining weight, a major source of stress on joints; it develops muscles to support joints; and it maintains joint flexibility. For endurance exercise, seek out low-impact activities—such as cross-country skiing, rowing, swimming, bicycling, or walking--and mix your workouts to avoid overuse of any particular joints. Weight training should emphasize muscle tone--through numerous repetitions with lighter weights—rather than intense muscle building with heavy weights. Like routine maintenance on your car, exercise will keep your body working in tip-top shape throughout your years.
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