What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the name doctors give to more than 100 types of rheumatic diseases, which often affect the joints and the tissues around the joints, including muscles and tendons. Although we usually associate arthritis with aging, even children and young adults can be affected.
Types of Arthritis
Currently, medical researchers have identified 127 types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, occurs when a joint wears out, as a person ages or after an injury. Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes called "The Great Crippler" because it can cause severely deformed joints in addition to pain and swelling. Physicians believe the disease may be caused by microorganisms, autoimmunity (when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues) or perhaps even a combination of both. Some people inherit a tendency toward rheumatoid arthritis. Other common types of arthritis are fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis, scleroderma, gout and Lyme Disease.
Exercise is an important part of arthritis treatment.
Researchers have found that people with arthritis
who take their doctor's advice to 
exercise usually feel better.
Therapeutic exercise can increase the motion and the strength
of arthritic joints. Exercise builds muscles and increases muscle
tone, which helps to stabilize joints. Tendons and ligaments also
gain strength when they're used. Even your bones grow stronger
with weight-bearing exercise. Exercise helps you feel better in
other ways too. Regular exercise improves heart function and decreases
blood pressure. Many people who exercise regularly report that
they sleep better and feel less anxious. Best of all, exercise
stimulates your body to produce more endorphins for natural pain
control. Exercise helps you stay active and enjoy life-even with
arthritis!
