Physical exercise is often very helpful in improving joint mobility and reducing pain in osteoarthritis. The best exercises are isometrics, walking and swimming. Isometric exercise is a technique in which your effort is directed against a resistant object. (As an example, make “hooks” with all the fingers of both hands. Lock the “hooks” together and try to pull them apart.) These types of exercises increase circulation to the joint and strengthen the surrounding muscles without placing excessive strain on joints. Increasing muscles strength around joints affected with osteoarthritis has been shown to improve joint function and reduce pain.
-Michael Murray, N.D., in Dr. Murray’s Total body Tune-Up, Bantam Books, 2000
