Older arthritis patients 'can benefit from 45 minutes of activity per week'

Older people witharthritis can see benefits from getting more active, even if they are not able to achieve the recommended ideal amount ofexercise on a weekly basis. This is according to a new study from Northwestern University in the US, which indicated that even 45 minutes of activity per week can result in tangible health benefits that would not be achieved if patients remained sedentary. Setting more achievable goals Currently, US government guidelines recommend that people take part in 150 minutes of moderate activity per week to prevent premature death and serious illness. However, only one in ten older American adults with arthritis in their knees are able to do this. The new study, published in the medical journal Arthritis Care& Research, set 45 minutes a week as a less overwhelming activity goal, and then investigated whether or not this was enough to help yield functional benefits. It was found that overall, only one-third of participants improved or had high function after two years, but participants who achieved a minimum of 45 minutes of moderate activity per week were 80 percent more likely to improve or sustain high future function, a finding that was true for both men and women. The benefits of small lifestyle changes Although it was emphasised that more exercise leads to better results, this study indicated that even this less rigorous goal can benefit joint health and lead to a better quality of life. Moderate-intensity activities include pastimes such ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news