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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

Controlling Your Arthritis

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  • Weight loss. If you're obese, losing weight will reduce the stress on your weight-bearing joints. This may increase your mobility and limit future joint injury.
  • Exercise. Regular exercise can help keep your joints flexible. Swimming or water aerobics is often a good choice because the buoyancy of the water reduces stress on weight-bearing joints.
  • Heat and cold. Heating pads or ice packs may help relieve arthritis pain.
  • Assistive devices. Using canes, walkers, raised toilet seats and other assistive devices can help protect your joints and improve your ability to perform daily tasks.
Alternative medicine Treatments and drugs
References
  1. Questions and answers about arthritis and rheumatic diseases. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Arthritis/arthritis_rheumatic_qa.asp. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  2. Arthritis advice. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/arthritis-advice. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  3. Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  4. Arthritis: Frequently asked questions — General public. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/faqs.htm. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  5. Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1807/0.html. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  6. Schur PH, et al. General principles of management of rheumatoid arthritis. http://uptodate.com/home/index. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  7. Weissman BN, et al. Diagnostic imaging of joint pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  8. Chang-Miller A (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 26, 2012.
  9. Kalunian KC. Pharmacologic therapy of osteoarthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  10. Kalunian KC. Nonpharmacologic therapy of osteoarthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 18, 2010.
  11. Chronic pain and CAM: At a glance. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/pain/chronic.htm. Accessed Nov. 6, 2012.
  12. Sawitzke AD, et al. Clinical efficacy and safety of glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, their combination, celecoxib or placebo taken to treat osteoarthritis of the knee: 2-year results from GAIT. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases. 2010;69:1459.
DS01122 Jan. 22, 2013

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