Osteoarthritis: how to make exercise part of your treatment plan

The idea of exercising with swollen, painful joints and weakened muscles may seem counterintuitive. But increasingly research shows that the vicious cycle of immobility and dependence initiated by osteoarthritis can be interrupted by making exercise part of therapy. A well-designed program of aerobic and resistance training and whole-body flexibility and joint mobility exercise should join other interventions such as weight loss, medication, physical therapy, joint protection, and surgery to improve symptoms and reduce the impact of osteoarthritis on patients' lives.