Walking: arthritis’ arch-enemy

It’s a myth you should put your feet up to stop arthritis from getting worse. Movement is the key, and walking daily is the secret of keeping joints moving and pain at bay.

ARTHRITIS IS THE number one cause of disability in the UK. It’s thought one in seven of us has some form of it, leading to stiffness, limited movement and pain. Yet many do the wrong thing when they’re diagnosed because of a misconception that the condition is ‘wear and tear’, and the best way to prevent it getting worse is to stop walking. That’s precisely what you shouldn’t do, says David Vaux of charity Arthritis Action: “Movement is the fundamental thing. There’s a lot of evidence to suggest pain from arthritis is improved if we can move, and this is universally experienced with injury or an arthritic joint.

“If we strengthen the muscles around joints we’re more likely to feel less pain. Don’t forget we’re not just meat and bone, we’re also human beings. Sharing time with other people is helpful to your frame of mind, and also to your nervous system, because if you’re doing something enjoyable you’ll feel less pain. Walking’s important whether you’ve got arthritis or not, says David: “The act of walking is fundamentally good for us as human beings. It’s good for hip, knee, ankle mobility and balance.

“Unless you’ve had a historic injury by fall or accident, it’s still quite mysterious as to why some people get arthritis while others don’t,” explains Vaux.

“If you’re unlucky enough to develop it, you’ll be far better placed having had a strong history of walking – you’ll have fewer detrimental effects.”

David is therapies and exercise project lead at Arthritis Action: arthritisaction.org.uk