Arthritis is a tricky disease, slowly creeping up on you in the form of increased stiffness, pain and inflammation in your joints. In many cases, this degeneration gradually results in a loss of mobility and reduced endurance levels – as well as a consequent lack of physical activity—for those afflicted with this ailment.
Unfortunately, this decrease in movement puts arthritis patients at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, there may be new hope: according to a study done by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), high-intensity cardio training can not only help those with arthritis to painlessly increase their cardiovascular strength—it can actually improve arthritis symptoms.
Throughout the aforementioned study, Anja Bye and her team of researchers at NTNU studied the effects of hard physical training on a group of women with arthritis. Over the course of the study, Bye had her subjects ride stationary bikes biweekly.
After 10 weeks, her and her fellow researchers noticed “a tendency for there to be less inflammation [in the women’s joints], at least as measured by the inflammation marker CRP,” she said. “The participants of the study [also] experienced a solid increase in maximum oxygen intake, meaning that they reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease.”
So, if you’ve got arthritis, what are you waiting for? Head over to the gym to kick your pain—and risk of further illness—to the curb!
