Time to exercise

May is Arthritis Awareness Month, and it is a great time to take charge of your health. If you have arthritis, you may think you should not exercise. The fact is, exercise is a safe and effective pain reliever and self-management tool for people with arthritis. It is important to talk with your health care professional to determine what exercise is right for you.

Generally speaking, at least 30 minutes a day of exercise is ideal for a person with arthritis. If that amount of exercise time sounds daunting in the beginning, the exercise can be broken down into smaller increments – like walking for 10 minutes at a time, three times a day. Being physically active may help you feel more in control of your life – physical activity can be walking, swimming, biking, dancing, gardening or washing your car.

Spring has sprung. Take advantage of this time of year to develop an exercise plan. Physical Activity is the arthritis pain reliever.

Mark S. Box, MD
Chairman of the Board
Arthritis Foundation of Western Missouri/Greater Kansas City