
How are the two diseases similar?
- They both begin without pain, but can progress to a point where pain in daily life can be debilitating
- Exercise is prescribed to help both diseases, though in different ways. Weight bearing and resistance exercises can help build bone to combat osteoporosis. Most any exercise can help people cope better with arthritis, by maintaining range of motion and circulation, but exercise alone does not usually stop the progression of the inflammation.
- A healthy diet full of vegetables, fruits, omega-3 oil and protein can help build bones to prevent, slow or reverse osteoporosis; the same type of diet may lessen the inflammation that causes arthritis.
Arthritis can present challenges for those who also are fighting osteoporosis. If you have arthritis in your knees, for example, you may not be able to run, jump, or engage in other high impact exercise that is often effective in stimulating bones to grow. There are alternatives, however, such as using resistance bands,Yoga, working out on a PowerPlate, which intensifies your workout, walking with a weighted vest, and participating in a program like Be Strong 4 Life, in which you perform high intensity isometric exercises for a very short time (5-10 seconds). Those with arthritis especially will want to cross train and vary their exercises to avoid repetitive stress on a joint. Changing up your exercise routine also makes it more fun.