Articles
The Journal on Active Aging brings articles of value to professionals dedicated to older-adult quality of life. Content sweeps across the active-aging landscape to focus on education and practice. Find articles of interest by searching the article archives in three ways: Enter a keyword in the articles search bar; click on search by topic; or type a keyword or phrase in the general search bar at the top of the page.
Topic- Arthritis
Physical activity for joint health by Mary Stauder, MS, ACSM-RCEP & EIM-3, NSCA-CPT, ACE-TES
Joint health and function become important to consider as a person ages. Through the prescription of exercise in the appropriate dose, type, frequency and intensity, joint function and integrity can be better managed to preserve individual quality of life and independence. In any discussion of active aging, it is nearly impossible to minimize the impact of normal wear and tear on the body as well as the physiological changes that can occur with aging and with deconditioning. Bone and joint health can be compromised by increases in body fat and decreases in bone density, fat free mass and cardiorespiratory fitness. Yet, at every age and any fitness level, individuals can work towards preserving their joint health and fitness through exercise.
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Overcoming obstacles to exercise among people with arthritis: How can you help? by Julie J. Keysor, PT, PhD, and Aileen Ledingham, PT, MS
Joint pain and stiffness are cardinal signs of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Joint pain and stiffness make it difficult to move and people inevitably slow down. That doesn't really help, though. Inactivity makes muscles weak, which compounds the pain and stiffness. Inactivity in itself can result in pain and stiffness. How does one break the cycle? By knowing barriers to exercise and behavior-change strategies, you can guide older adults with this chronic condition in achieving more physically active lifestyles.
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Increasing physical activity among adults with arthritis by Mary B. Waterman, MPH, and Patience H. White, MD, MA
Arthritis is a serious disease that can be disabling, but a diagnosis of arthritis does not mean that an active life is out of reach. Physical activity is a safe and effective tool for managing the disease. However, few adults with arthritis engage in physical activity. Becoming and staying active is extremely important for these individuals, making the role of the active-aging professional key in helping individuals with arthritis live well.
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Hip osteoarthritis: aquatic exercise for healthy living on land by Mary E. Sanders, PhD, FACSM, RCEP, and Cathy Maloney-Hills, RPT
Evelyne Janz lives in Lonay, Switzerland, and at age 54, she’s an avid swimmer, mountain biker, hiker and skier. For many years she has trained daily and worked as a professional water-fitness trainer, and swimming coach. In April 2012, Evelyne and her family skied the Chamonix-Zermat Haute Route (High Route) in the Swiss Alps, traversing glaciers for 6 days. But her family history of hip arthritis had taken its toll, and her physically active lifestyle had become progressively difficult due to hip pain and stiffness. To reclaim her lifestyle, Evelyne decided to undergo hip replacement surgery, an effective and now common1 treatment for disabling osteoarthritis.
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Promote exercise to people with arthritis
When joints are stiff and in pain, physical activity seems like that last thing a person wants to do. On top of the discomfort, concerned friends and relations may urge a person with arthritis to “sit and rest.” Sedentary living, common in older adults, is certainly common in older adults with arthritis (1, 2).
There are many forms of arthritis, a chronic condition that affects the musculoskeletal system and joints (and sometimes the organs). Osteoarthritis is the most common form among all ages and particularly among older adults (3, 4). Osteoarthritis occurs because the cartilage that cushions the two bones meeting in a joint breaks down. Over time, the cartilage wears down and the bones begin to rub together. The result is changes to the joint, including swelling, bony protuberances and weakness in the joints and tendons (5, 6).
Arthritis
Fit and Strong! an evidence-based program for older adults with osteoarthritis by Susan Hughes, DSW, Pankaja Desai, PhD, Rachel Seymour, PhD, and Gail Huber, PhD
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common condition affecting older people today. It is also the leading cause of disability among them. OA is associated with aging and affects the joints of the body, which become stiff and painful on motion as the cartilage between bone surfaces wears down. Although OA can affect all joints in the body, its presence in lower extremity joints is particularly problematic.
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