All kinds of physical activity are helpful for people suffering from arthritis—and they’re not just about loosening up your joints.
According to a study published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, one specific type of walking has now been proven more effective than other methods.
Researchers from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston compared two types of Arthritis Foundation programs:
- Walk With Ease, a walking program, and
- Breaking the Pain Chain, a program during which participants learn lifestyle methods to manage their pain.
They recruited 163 arthritis sufferers and assigned them to either one of the two programs.
Breaking the Pain Chain consisted of a 190-minute seminar to teach participants strategies and tools to identify pain triggers and manage their pain.
Walk With Ease is a 6-week walking program. It focuses on developing a walking plan that will meet your needs, stay motivated to go out walking, manage your pain, and learn to exercise safely.
Researchers found that people in the Walk With Ease group had more confidence, were emotionally more upbeat, experienced less pain, and reported less health distress than participants in the Breaking the Pain Chain group.
If you suffer arthritis, I highly recommend you contact an arthritis foundation in your area to see if there is a Walking With Ease program available—though going out regularly for a walk may be just as beneficial.
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