Exercise & Arthritis: A Natural Remedy For Chronic Pain

You’re right on schedule for your hair appointments, you invest in your beauty, but why not invest in your overall well-being? Many of us put wellness and fitness on the backburner, but we need to take charge, especially for those of us living with rheumatoid arthritis!

Different from osteoarthritis, which is the wear-and-tear breakdown of joint cartilage experienced over time, rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disease that causes both pain and intense fatigue.

When you’re in the throes of a flare, exercise may seem like mission impossible and you might be advised to rest until it passes. But exercise is an essential part of an overall treatment plan to ease RA symptoms and improve mobility. Aim for a weekly routine that includes stretching, cardio and strength training.

When Charlie Jannings, MD, talks about the value of exercise, you have to take him seriously. After all, the man is a kickboxer. He’s also the reigning male athlete of the year at the Big Sky State Games, an Olympic-style event that attracts thousands of Montanans of all ages: He won four gold medals in his age group. All in all, you could say he’s fairly fit for a 75-year-old.

A specialist in both geriatrics and sports medicine, Jannings has