10 things you shouldn’t do if you have arthritis

Any degenerative disease of the joints can make regular things difficult. One such major joint issue is arthritis. There are many types of arthritis, the most common being Osteoarthritis. It affects the end of the bones and can affect any joint which forms the joints and hence cause problems in movement in arthritis patients. It is usually recognised with symptoms like pain (at rest and while moving the joint), swelling, stiffness, reduced range of movement, and visible deformities.

Healthshots got in touch with Dr Aman Khera, Surgeon – Geriatric Care at Care4Parents, who rolled out 10 things an arthritis patient should avoid doing.

Dr Khera says, “Exercise has always been considered important for arthritis patients, and rightly so. However, it is Important to understand and know what should not be done. Since the disease affects the joints, certain movements or incorrect postures during workout can further damage the joint and aggravate the symptoms. One has to be very careful in performing the exercises.”

Important tips that arthritis patients should always keep in mind:

1. Exercises like running, jogging should be avoided by arthritis patients. This produces a direct impact on the knee joint which may cause further damage and aggravate pain.
2. Similarly, high impact aerobics, jumping, and skipping should be best avoided. Avoid heavy weight lifting as that also causes pressure on joints.
3. Sports where there are sudden movements or changes in the direction like tennis, basketball, volleyball should be avoided. Sudden change of movement causes pressure on joints and hence the aggravation of condition.
4. Going up and down a flight of stairs is best avoided. You should avoid walking down the stairs especially as there is a direct impact on the knee joint. Use an elevator whenever available.
5. “Walking on irregular and uneven surfaces, mountain trekking also puts uneven pressure on the joints, so should be best avoided,” says Dr Khera.
6. Wearing ill-fitting or poorly-shaped footwear, high heels should be avoided.
7. Sit in the correct posture. An incorrect posture can cause pain in joints. Squatting or sitting with legs crossed is very harmful for knee joints. Avoid as much as possible.
8. All exercises must be done in moderation. Excessive exercising, aggressive movements while exercising should be avoided. Remember, if there is a pain in a joint while doing exercise, stop immediately. Stop the exercise if there is a pain in the joint while performing.
9. “Some people tend to take painkillers before doing an exercise. This should be totally avoided as these medicines mask the pain which is a warning sign”, advises Dr Khera.
10. Hot compresses, hot yoga should be avoided. Remember, heat increases inflammation and worsens the swelling. This will aggravate the symptoms of arthritis.

Takeaway for arthritis patients:

Generally speaking, if there are symptoms of arthritis, anything which causes an increase in pressure on joints should be avoided. Exercise in moderation, keep the body weight in check and maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep it under control.