46 million adults have been diagnosed with arthritis.  9% of these individuals claim arthritis limits their physical capabilities.  21 million people alone suffer from osteoarthritis.  Unfortunately, the incidence of arthritis is on the rise.  There are things you can do to ease the symtoms.

Exercise can be a great way to deal with the aches and pains of arthritis. But it’s important to perform the right exercises under a doctor’s supervision.

Here are suggestions about exercising if you have arthritis, courtesy of the University of Washington School of Medicine:

• If you have a physical or occupational therapist, he or she should participate in creating your exercise plan.
• Your exercises should put minimal stress on your joints, especially when you first start out. Don’t overdo it.
• Try a combination of both therapeutic (designed to help ease symptoms and improve joint function) and recreational (just for fun) exercises.
• Use other methods to ease symptoms, such as using heating pads and ice packs, eating a healthy diet, taking medication as prescribed, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

(HealthDay News)