Help and Hope for Arthritis

A message from the Arthritis Foundation
Living with arthritis is not about limiting yourself, but rather about taking control and empowering yourself to find ways to maintain your high quality of life. If you are one of the 43-million Americans with arthritis, you can take charge of your condition and continue to enjoy your favorite activities, such as walking. Walking is one of the most beneficial aerobic exercises for individuals with arthritis. Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. For more information about walking and arthritis, contact the Arthritis Foundation. Call them at 1-800-283-7800 or visit Arthritis.org for a free Arthritis Answer's brochure.

One step to easing arthritis
Osteo-arthritis, the most common form of arthritis, occurs when cartilage protecting the ends of the bones in your joints breaks down over time from injury, or due to other factors. When this happens, your bones may rub against each other at your joints, producing pain, inflammation and stiffness. If you have arthritis, you may be hesitant to work out, but activities such as walking can actually help prevent or ease arthritis symptoms. To help support your joints, exercise to build and maintain strong muscles around them. Walking can help reduce the inflammation in joints. It can also help you lose weight. Excess weight adds to the force absorbed by your joints. When you begin a walking program, the most important thing you need is a good pair of walking shoes to protect your feet and make your walking experience comfortable. Poor shoes that cause aching feet will only serve as a deterrent to getting out and walking again.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy
A new treatment shows promise in slowing the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment protected the joints from damage from the autoimmune disease, scientists found. In an autoimmune disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks its own tissue. In the study of 271 patients, the medication reduced the symptoms of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of the drug is to block the activity that contributes to the inflammation in autoimmune diseases.