Can you play sport with osteoarthritis? If you suffer from osteoarthritis, you experience pain, stiffness and movement restriction. This reduces your muscle strength, stamina and coordination. However, it is important not to let this stop you from moving. Regular exercise has a positive impact on your health and it improves your fitness. In this blog, we would like to provide you with more information on whether it is possible to exercise with osteoarthritis.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a condition of the joint. In osteoarthritis, the quality of the cartilage in your joint deteriorates. In addition, the bone changes and often the joint also becomes (slightly) inflamed. With osteoarthritis, you suffer from pain and stiffness. You also have difficulty moving. You can get it in 1 joint, but it can also occur in several joints. It occurs mainly in the knees, hips, lower back, fingers and wrists.
Why exercise with osteoarthritis is so important
Exercise has a positive impact on osteoarthritis. Movement increases the function of a joint and reduces pain. Many people think that joints wear out with exercise, but this is not the case. By moving, cartilage is stimulated to absorb nutrients. It also trains the muscles, tendons and ligaments around the joint. This makes the joints firmer and more stable. So exercising with osteoarthritis is definitely recommended, as long as it is not too intensive.
Which sports can I practice with osteoarthritis?
Most sports are suitable to exercise, as long as you do so responsibly. Think of walking and cycling. These are sports that are not very intensive. In addition, activities in water, such as swimming, are also very suitable to practice with osteoarthritis. This will spare the joints. With these sports, try to avoid overexertion by warming up properly and building up slowly. In addition, it is important to pack the joints. The cold makes a joint stiff and can make the symptoms worse.
We also offer various braces that can provide support when practising these sports. These include knee support and ankle support. This way, you will experience fewer complaints when practising these sports.
Which sports are not recommended?
It is important to avoid sports that put a lot of strain on your joints. Examples include volleyball, basketball and football. If you have osteoarthritis in your legs, these sports are less suitable. Sports in which you make unexpected movements are also discouraged. An example is racket sports. This is because you run a higher risk of injuries.
