7 ways to help prevent arthritis

The three most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Each type develops differently, but are all painful and can lead to a loss of function.

The symptoms of arthritis vary from person to person, but mostly always include: pain, swelling in a joint, redness and warmth in a join, stiffness, and reduced mobility of a joint.

Did you know?

• The number of Australians with arthritis is projected to rise to 5.4 million by 2030.
• Arthritis is the second most common reason for early retirement due to ill health.
• Health system expenditure for arthritis is more than $5.6 billion annually, making it one of the most expensive disease groups in Australia.
• Around 2 million people with arthritis are of working age (15-64).
• Arthritis is the second most common cause of disability after back pain.

So what can you do? Unfortunately, arthritis isn’t always preventable - some causes are out of your control. However, the good news is there are a few healthy habits you can practice to reduce your risk of developing arthritis, and improve your overall health at the same time:

1. Eat well

A well-balanced diet is important for your overall health. Simple sugars and treats may give you a quick lift, but it’s whole grains and unsaturated fats that supply the reserves your body needs to draw on throughout the day.

The National Health and Medical Research Council’s Australian Dietary Guidelines recommends choosing a variety of foods from each of the following five food groups every day:

1. Vegetables and legumes/beans
2. Fruit
3. Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties
4. Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds
5. Milk, cheese and yoghurts and/or alternatives

Eating well can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce the pressure put on your joints.

2. Exercise regularly

Extra body weight increases the stress on your joints, particularly the knees, hips and lower back. In fact, research has found that up to 70% of cases of osteoarthritis of the knee is preventable by avoiding excess weight gain. If you are overweight, losing weight and exercising regularly will decrease the stress on your joints, may reduce pain and will make it easier for you to move around.

Before you start to exercise, it’s important to ask your doctor or health care professional to help you develop a suitable program of activities for your individual needs.

Arthritis Australia generally recommends a combination of the following when it comes to exercise:

• Flexibility – exercises such as yoga and muscle stretches will help maintain or improve the mobility of your joints and muscles.
• Muscle strengthening – using weights, resistance bands and gym machines will help strengthen your muscles to support and take pressure off sore joints, strengthen bones and improve your overall balance.
• Fitness – exercises like a brisk walk will help improve the health of your heart and lungs and focus on the larger muscles in the body, rather than exercising a specific area.

Low-impact exercises are another option as they put less pressure on the joints. These can include; exercising in water such as swimming or water aerobics, tai chi, Pilates, cycling and dancing.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s guidelines, adults aged 65 years and over should do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. If you have not exercised for a while, you may need to start with shorter sessions then build slowly.

3. Stay hydrated

Did you know the cartilage in our joints is made up mostly of water? When we’re dehydrated, there is less moisture in our cartilage which makes it more susceptible to damage by wear and tear. The average person should drink between two to two-and-a-half litres of water per day. So, upping your water intake now will not only help keep your joints lubricated so you can move better, it will also reduce your risk of developing arthritis in years to come.