What exercises would you recommend for suffers of Osteoarthritis?

Question

Specifically for problems with knees and ankles. Jogging and cycling are not options right now but is there something to build up the muscles around the joint so that they may be again?

Thank you for all your answers so far.

Just to clarify:
I realise that it is due to worn away cartelidge however until it is completely worn away it appears that with weight loss and certain forms of excercise you can significantly delay the need for surgery. I am interested in which forms of excercise work best.

Answer 1

Treatment
Since OA is the result of irreversible worn-out cartilage, the goal of treatment is to reduce the joint pain while at the same time, improving and maintaining the function of the joint.

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Coping skills and lifestyle changes
No matter what the severity, or where the OA lies, conservative measures, such as weight control, appropriate rest and exercise, and the use of mechanical support devices are usually beneficial to sufferers. In the case of OA of the knees, knee braces, a cane, or a walker can be a helpful aid for walking and support. Regular exercise, if possible, in the form of walking or swimming, is encouraged. Applying local heat before, and cold packs after exercise, can help relieve pain and inflammation, as do relaxation techniques. Weight loss can delay progression. As such, the proper advice and guidance by a physiotherapist go a long way in OA management, enabling sufferers to get back closer to their previous routine.

Dealing with chronic pain can be difficult and result in depression. Communicating with other OA sufferers is helpful, as is maintaining a positive attitude. People who take control of their treatment, communicate with their doctor, and actively manage their arthritis experience suffer less pain and function better.

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Dietary
Most physicians recommend the oral intake of glucosamine. Glucosamine is a natural substance found in almost all tissues in the body, and is involved in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans, the main ingredient of the synovial fluid (a fluid that fills the space between joints) and cartilage. Glucosamine is not found in food sources, but is produced naturally by the body, and if for some reasons, the body does not produce it, it would probably lead to the development of OA.

Supplements which may be useful for treating OA include:

Antioxidants, including vitamins C and E in both foods and supplements, provide pain relief from OA. (McAlindon TE, et al, 1996).
Chondroitin sulphate improves symptoms of OA, and delays its progression (Poolsup N et al, 2005).
Collagen hydrolysate (a gelatin product) may also prove beneficial in the relief of OA symptoms, as substantiated in a German study by Beuker F. et. al. and Seeligmuller et. al. In their 6-month placebo-controlled study of 100 elderly patients, the verum group showed significant improvement in joint mobility.
Ginger (rhizome) extract - has improved knee symptoms moderately (Altman RD, 1991).
Glucosamine has also been shown to improve symptoms of OA, and to delay its progression (Poolsup N et al, 2005). However, recent evidence shows that glucosamine is not effective in reversing OA of the knee (McAlindon et al 2004).
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): after several reports that MSM helped arthritis in animal models, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study suggested that 1500 mg per day MSM (alone or in combination with glucosamine sulfate) was helpful in relieving symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (Usha and Naidu 2004). Kim et al. then conducted a double-blind clinical trial of MSM for treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Twenty-five patients took 6 g/day MSM and 25 patients took a placebo for 12 weeks. Ten patients did not complete the study, and intent-to-treat analysis was performed. Patients who took MSM had significantly reduced pain and improved physical functioning, without major adverse events (Kim et al). No evidence of a more general anti-inflammatory effect was found, as there were no significant changes in two measures of systemic inflammation: C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The authors cautioned that this short pilot study did not address the long-term safety and usefulness of MSM, but suggested that physicians should consider its use for certain osteoarthritis patients, and that long-term studies should be conducted (Kim et al. 2006).
Omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements reduces both the "degradative and inflammatory aspects of chondrocyte metabolism." (Curtis CL, 2002)
S-adenosyl methionine: small scale studies have shown it to be as effective as NSAIDs in reducing pain, although it takes about four weeks for the effect to take place.
Selenium in low levels has been correlated with a higher risk and severity of OA, therefore selenium supplementation may reduce this risk [2].
vitamins B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin) taken in large doses significantly reduced OA hand pain, presumbably by reducing systemic inflammation (Flynn MA 1994).
Vitamin D deficiency has been reported in patients with OA, and supplementation with Vitamin D3 is recommended for pain relief (Arabelovic, 2005).
Other nutritional changes shown to promote the treatment of OA include elevated saturated fat intake (Wilhelmi G, 1993) and elevated body fat (Christensen R, 2005). Lifestyle change may be needed for effective symptomatic relief, especially for knee OA (De Filippis L, 2004).

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Systemic treatment
Included in the medication regime for most cases, a mild pain reliever may be sufficiently efficacious. In more severe cases, NSAIDs are usually prescribed which can reduce both the pain and inflammation quite effectively. These include medications such as diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. High doses are often required. All NSAIDs act by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins, which play a central role in inflammation and pain. However, these drugs are rather taxing on the gastrointestinal tract, and may cause stomach upset, cramping diarrhoea, and peptic ulcer.

Another type of NSAID, COX-2 selective inhibitors (such as celecoxib, and the withdrawn rofecoxib and valdecoxib) reduce this risk substantially. These latter NSAIDs carry an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, and some have now been withdrawn from the market. Another medication, acetaminophen (paracetamol), is commonly used to treat the pain from OA, although unlike NSAID's acetaminophen does not treat the inflammation. Application of heat — often moist heat — eases inflammation and swelling in the joints, and can help improve circulation, which has a healing effect on the local area.

Most doctors nowadays are loath to use steroids in the treatment of OA as their effect is modest and the adverse effects may outweigh the benefits.

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Topical
"Topical treatments" are treatments designed for local application and action. Some NSAIDs are available for topical use (e.g. ibuprofen) and may improve symptoms without having systemic side-effects.

Creams and lotions, containing capsaicin, are effective in treating pain associated with OA if they are applied with sufficient frequency.

Severe pain in specific joints can be treated with local lidocaine injections or similar local anaesthetics, and glucocorticoids (such as hydrocortisone). Corticosteroids (cortisone and similar agents) may temporarily reduce the pain.

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Surgery
If the above management is ineffective, surgery (joint replacement) may be required. Individuals with very painful OA joints may require surgery such as fragment removal, repositioning bones, or fusing bone to increase stability and reduce pain. For severe pain, narcotic pain relievers such as tramadol, and eventually opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone or morphine) may be necessary; these should be reserved for very severe cases, and are rarely medically necessary for chronic pain.

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Other approaches
There are various other modalities in use for osteoarthritis:

Low level laser therapy ; this is a light wave based treatment that may reduce pain. The treatment is painless, inexpensive and without risks or side effects. Unfortunately, it may not actually have any real benefits.[3].
Prolotherapy (proliferative therapy); this is the injection of an irritant substance (such as dextrose) to create an acute inflammatory reaction. It is claimed to strengthen and heal damaged tissues including ligaments, tendons and cartilage as part of this reaction. The injection is painful (like corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid) and may cause an increase in pain for a few days afterwards. The only other significant risk is the rare possibility of infection.
Radiosynoviorthesis: A radioactive isotope (a beta-ray emitter with a brief half-life) is injected into the joint to soften the tissue. Due to the involvement of radioactive material, this is an elaborate and costly procedure, but it has a success rate of around 80%.

Answer 2

The best form of exercise is doing low resistance and low weight bearing exercise... walking, pilates ang yoga are all good forms of strengthening you rinner muscles which support the joints. If this is too much fo ryou at the moment, the you cant beat a few laps of the pool. Moving your legs against the natural low resistance of the water is great for all round exercise

Answer 3

Osteoarthritis is caused when the layer of cartilage that covers the end of the bones gets worn out due to use or because of injury and bone spurs are formed. More information on osteoarthritis,home remedies and treatment is available at http://tinyurl.com/z5vx5

Answer 4

Swimming!

Answer 5

mobility movements like arm and leg lifts while sitting in a chair or bench those are excellent for those who suffer arthritis and if you need suggestions talk to a massage therapist or a physical therapist for suggestions on movement exercises.

Answer 6

Water aerobics

Answer 7

swimming, its best as its non weight bearing, and cycling for similar reasons. talk it over with your rhematologist or GP before tackling anything....

Answer 8

Stretching would be the best thing for you.

Answer 9

SWIMMING