HUTCHINSON, Kan. — May is Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis, now at an all time high, is one of the most common health conditions in the United States, and a leading cause of disability.
Nearly one-third of US adults living in rural areas have arthritis, which includes more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. Symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis, but usually include joint pain and stiffness.
More than half of the adults with arthritis in rural areas are limited in their everyday activities by the condition, in Reno County this number is 51.8% of adults.
Adults with arthritis can reduce or better manage their symptoms, including pain, by being physically active. Most people with arthritis can be physically active on their own by walking or doing other kinds of activity. Regular physical activity can have many benefits for people with arthritis without making symptoms worse.
If you have arthritis, participating in joint-friendly physical activity can improve your arthritis pain, function, mood, and quality of life. Joint-friendly physical activities are low-impact, which means they put less stress on the body, reducing the risk of injury. Examples of joint-friendly activities include walking, biking and swimming.
Being physically active can also delay the onset of arthritis-related disability and help people with arthritis manage other chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
In addition, the recently released County Health Rankings reported that 40% of the Reno County adult population has a body mass index (BMI) that places them in the obese category. Physical activity along with healthy nutrition can assist in reducing BMI.
Choose activities that are easy on the joints like walking, bicycling, water aerobics, or dancing. For more information go to www.renogov.org or call 620-665-8882.