CUSHION THE BLOW OF OSTEOARTHRITIS WITH EXERCISE

Cartilage is a cushioning tissue found at the tips of bones to prevent them from grating against each other. It has no blood supply, is made up of 85% water and contains collagen and proteins.

The loss of cartilage increases the likelihood of osteoarthritis. The good news is that cartilage health can be improved through exercise.

The positive effects of exercise

We know that joint immobilisation can lead to a decrease in cartilage, which may lead to the worsening of osteoarthritis. Studies have shown that exercise can improve joint function and relieve pain for people with osteoarthritis. The protection of your cartilage is a compelling reason to make exercise part of your daily routine.

Exercise helps to:

• deliver nutrients to the cartilage
• remove its waste materials, thus helping the cartilage to stay healthy
• improve the cartilage quality by boosting compounds that play a key role in cartilage formation and repair

For people with osteoarthritis, exercises that involve moving the joints through their range of motion can help build strong and healthy cartilage and improve flexibility.