To prevent degenerative arthritis, you must do muscle strength training and stretching exercises to relieve pain and stiffness!

If you experience pain, swelling, heat, and stiffness in the joints, be careful as these are signs of degenerative arthritis. You may wish to seek advice from a professional physiotherapist. Exercises including local muscle strength training, stretching exercises and whole-body physical activities can effectively reduce the pain caused by degenerative arthritis and increase physical function.

Exercise, including local muscle strength training, stretching exercises and whole-body physical activities, can effectively relieve the pain caused by degenerative arthritis and increase physical function.

September 8th is World Physical Therapy Day and also Physical Therapist Day in Taiwan. The theme of this year's World Physiotherapy Day is "Osteoarthritis". The Physical Therapy Center of National Taiwan University Hospital reminds the public that improving degenerative arthritis is not just about taking medicine or doing electrotherapy. Let the physical therapist introduce you to suitable exercises to effectively relieve pain and enhance movement and activity functions.

Clinical diagnosis of degenerative arthritis

The current clinical diagnosis of degenerative arthritis is: people aged 45 years or above experience joint pain caused by activities, morning stiffness of the affected joint after getting up in the morning, but it can be relieved within 30 minutes, or people under 45 years old who have suffered traumatic joint injuries may also suffer from degenerative arthritis. About 50% of young people develop degenerative arthritis within 10 to 15 years after a joint sports injury.

A woman who loves outdoor activities went to see a doctor for knee pain. The orthopedic surgeon diagnosed her with degenerative knee arthritis and referred her to a physical therapist. After seeing the physical therapist, the patient expressed that she was very depressed after hearing the diagnosis and felt that her life had become bleak. This was because she thought about how she had just retired at the age of 60 and wanted to travel more, do outdoor activities and enjoy life. After being diagnosed with degenerative arthritis, would she be unable to move from then on and would she need to go to the hospital all the time for electrotherapy rehabilitation? This is the question and voice of many patients in clinical practice.

Exercise can help improve the discomfort of degenerative arthritis

In fact, regardless of age or the severity of symptoms, exercise is helpful for all patients with degenerative arthritis! Exercise can relieve pain. Studies on degenerative arthritis of the hip and knee have shown that exercise can significantly reduce pain. From this point of view, exercise is a good pain reliever for arthritis. Exercise can increase muscle strength to protect and support joints; exercise can reduce joint stiffness; exercise can also improve body balance and stability to reduce the potential risk of falling and injury.

Overall, regular exercise can effectively relieve pain and improve physical function for patients with degenerative arthritis.

The recommended exercise program for degenerative arthritis basically includes local muscle strength training, stretching exercises and whole-body physical activities.

1. Local muscle strengthening exercises.

Figure 1. Wall slide: knee strength training exercise

Figure 2. Thigh press machine

Local muscle strengthening exercises. (Photo courtesy of National Taiwan University Hospital)

2. Stretching exercises.

Figure 3. Lateral leg lift exercise (to train hip muscle strength)

Figure 4. Thigh abduction training machine

Stretching exercises. (Photo courtesy of National Taiwan University Hospital)

3. Whole-body physical activity.

For example: brisk walking, swimming, cycling, etc. can increase aerobic fitness and reduce the time of static sitting.

Figure 5. Hip and knee extension exercises

Whole body physical activity. (Photo courtesy of National Taiwan University Hospital)

The National Taiwan University Hospital Physical Therapy Center emphasizes that exercise can effectively relieve the pain caused by degenerative arthritis and increase body function, rather than just using equipment to relieve pain. If people feel any discomfort during physical activities, they are advised to go to the hospital for treatment and seek advice from professional physiotherapists at the physiotherapy center to help them choose suitable exercise methods. Exercise with the physical therapists at National Taiwan University Hospital to fight against degenerative arthritis.