May 4 2019

One hour a week staves off disability

Unfortunately, pain, not prevention,  is my primary motivator:  When a body part hurts or doesn’t function I research, try healthier behavior, seek help or advice . . . I change and when I feel better revert to old ways.  

Freddie, however, keeps me walking and hopefully keeps me from being a 2 in 5 statistic*   (jw)

The goal was to see what kind of activity would help people remain free of disability:
Study investigators analyzed four years of data from more than 1,500 adults in the national Osteoarthritis Initiative from Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The adults all had pain, aching or stiffness in lower extremity joints from osteoarthritis but were free of disability when they began the study. Their physical activity was monitored using accelerometers.

“Just one hour a week of brisk walking — as if you are late to an appointment or trying to make a train — staves off disability in older adults with arthritis pain, or aching or stiffness in a knee, hip, ankle or foot.”**

Less than 10 minutes a day to maintain your independence.

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*An estimated 14 million older adults in the U.S. have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of osteoarthritis. Approximately two in five people with osteoarthritis develop disability limitations.

NEUROSCIENCE NEWS

Federal guidelines recommend older adults with arthritis should participate in low-impact activity. For substantial health benefits including reducing the risk for heart disease and many other chronic diseases, these guidelines recommend older adults participate in at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate-intensity activity.

4 comments on “One hour a week staves off disability”

  1. Thank you for the reminder to get up off my you-know-what and go exercise.
    Another great exercise I was advised by a physical therapist is the sit to stand. I’d been doing this one in 4 sets of 25 each for a while, need to get back to it. It’s supposed to help keep you out of a wheelchair as it strengthens back, legs, abdomen, and breathing – even the butt that I’ve need to get up off of. (What a mutilation of English the last part of the sentence.)

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  2. In my exercise class we do sit to stand, but only for several times. I should do this more at home. We also do squats.

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