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this page: Osteoarthritis | Osteoporosis
| Prevention | Survey |
Quality Use of Medicines | Becoming
a Member
 Have you been feeling unwell?
Have you been able to maintain your exercise/sports/gym program?
Have you been unable to keep up with your work and home activities?
Have your recreational activities been curtailed?
"I
don’t know what’s happening to my body! I used to be able to
do as much sport and gym as I wanted, but all of a sudden I have these painful
joints that don’t seem to ever get better. I get a pain in my neck
at the end of the day and after I have been to the gym my wrist and knees
are very painful. Perhaps it all goes back to that knee injury I had years
ago.
 I haven’t been to the doctor because
I thought it would all get better. But
it hasn’t."
Be careful – these niggly painful
joints can be the start of arthritis. But
you can do something to relieve your pain
and stop the problem from getting
worse.
See your doctor or Physiotherapist and Care for Your Joints.
Do you need help with setting up your
work desk? Click
here to open an Adobe PDF document with
tips and check lists which might be of
help.
Don’t
just live with arthritis – live
well. Click on the picture at left for
more information about living well with
arthritis
and other
brochures and information sheets available
free of charge from Arthritis NSW.
Osteoarthritis
 Osteoarthritis is the most common form
of arthritis. People frequently see osteoarthritis
as being a progressive and disabling
disease
Some people do experience symptoms
of severe pain and stiffness. But for
many, symptoms are mild and cause only
temporary and occasional problems.
Osteoarthritis is a condition involving
the breakdown of the protective cushion
called cartilage covering the ends
of the bones where two bones meet to
form a joint.
Current thinking is that osteoarthritis
is due to changes within the cartilage
cells which lead to a loss of elasticity.
Over a period of time, the cartilage
thins and may even break down leaving
the bones unprotected. As a result,
the joint loses its smooth functioning.
The bone loses shape and thickens at
the end to produce bony spurs called
osteophytes.
Osteoporosis
Find out more about this disease which
affects thousands of Australians -
and how to prevent it. Click
here.
Prevention
Exercise is of vital importance in
the overall management of arthritis
and is
something you can do to help yourself
gain some control. In today’s busy
world, many of us seek quick solutions
for problems. Similarly you may be seeking
treatments for your arthritis that give
the desired results quickly. However,
in the case of exercise as a self-management
strategy, the old saying “slow
and steady wins the race” applies.
If you develop an exercise plan that
is enjoyable and part of your lifestyle
you will have a greater chance of success.
However when using exercise as a tool
for pain management or to increase fitness,
it is important to do exercises that are
appropriate for you and to follow correct
guidelines by a health professional.
If you do this you will be
much more successful in your program and
will feel better for it.
It's great to exercise to stay healthy
and feel good! But remember not to
push yourself through sharp pain. If
you have aches and pains in your joints
then you need to take care, ease off
the exercise that is causing and your
pain and see your doctor if the pain
continues.
Benefits of exercise:
- Keeps muscles
strong
- Keeps joints more mobile and flexible
(increases the range of movement)
- Maintains fitness (heart and
lungs)
- Helps to reduce fatigue
- Helps with depression
- Is often a distraction from pain
and other problems
- Is often connected with social
activity and fun
- Helps to maintain a good
body weight
- Strengthens bones and
reduces the risk of Osteoporosis
- Improves posture
and balance
- Relieves muscle tension
- Reduces stress levels
- Improves sleep patterns
Types of exercise
There are three different types of exercise:
- Mobility – assists you to maintain
and improve the range of movement of a
particular joint. This is essential for
daily activities. For example, you cannot
undertake the simple task of opening a
window if your shoulder movement is restricted,
or feed yourself if your elbow doesn’t
bend beyond a particular point
- Strengthening – stronger muscles
enable you to do more without feeling tired
and provide support and protection for
joints and improve your balance. When muscles
are weak it’s difficult to build
them up again
- Fitness/aerobic – exercise
for fitness is essential. Inactivity
over many
years is a major contributor to disability
and increased pain. There is evidence
that being physically fit is important
if you
have arthritis because fitness can
be improved without making your arthritis
worse and
will ease your pain
 What are the best fitness/aerobic exercises?
- Walking
- Swimming
- Water exercise
- Hydrotherapy
- Dancing
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a very safe and effective way
of gentle exercise which helps with flexibility
and mobility and strengthens as well
as improving posture and balance. It
is graceful in movement which helps you
to focus and relax. Dr Paul Lam has developed
Tai Chi for Arthritis, which has been
designed for people with arthritis and
sore knees and hips.
To purchase this video or for any other
information on exercise call us on 1800
011 041.
Warm water exercise however is one type
of arthritis that is beneficial to people
with all types of arthritis. Arthritis
NSW runs warm water exercise classes, please
call the office for more information.
 Challenging
Arthritis has a whole module dedicated
to exercise. For information
click on the picture at left.
Remember though..if it hurts – stop
and get your doctor to look at it.
Quality Use of Medicines
Quality Use of medicines is about the
safe, effective use of medicines. Click
here to find out more.
Becoming a Member
 Being
a member of Arthritis NSW gives you access
to our branches and all they offer - in
particular, warm water exercise classes
(where available), the latest research
news, and,
importantly, social contact with other
people who have arthritis.
You'll also get free access to our Challenging
Arthritis Program, an innovative,
interactive program you can do over the
internet or on a CD-ROM. With modules
that cover Coping with Arthritis, Managing
Pain, Exercise and Relaxation, Challenging
Arthritis has already helped hundreds
of people like you, who are still of
working age and wish to remain active
in spite of their arthritis.
Our quarterly Arthritis News magazine,
which is only available to members, has
articles on medicines, exercise, diet and
research, as well as information on seminars
and other events.
Membership fees for individuals are only
$30.00 per annum and couples/families can
join for $35.00 per annum. Click
here to find out more about joining Arthritis
NSW.
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