Exercise is one of the most effective ways to improve arthritic pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion in your joints. Arthritis is a chronic, progressive condition that causes inflammation, pain, and stiffness in one or more joints. The goal of an exercise program for those with arthritis is to preserve or restore range of motion and flexibility in affected joints, increase muscle strength & endurance to take stress off of arthritic joints, and increase aerobic conditioning. Check out seven benefits of exercise for those with arthritis and our tips for how to exercise safely with arthritis!

Regular exercise is one of the best ways to improve your heart health, prevent cardiovascular disease like heart disease or a heart attack, and help you recover after a cardiac event. A physical therapist plays a critical role in helping you exercise safely to improve your heart health and regain cardiovascular endurance and capacity progressively through a personalized and targeted exercise program. Check out our infographic to learn about the 7 benefits of exercise for heart health!

Frailty is a common syndrome among older adults that involves loss of muscle strength, exhaustion, low levels of physical activity, and an increased risk of falling. Inactivity and the subsequent sarcopenia, or a decrease in the amount and quality of muscle, is a major cause of frailty in older adults. Physical therapy can play a critical role in helping those with frailty restore overall mobility, strength, and aerobic capacity through a customized therapeutic exercise, strengthening, and balance training program. Check out our infographic on how physical therapy can help address frailty syndrome to learn more!

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in the elderly associated with dementia, memory loss, severe cognitive impairments, and eventually physical limitations. Alzheimer’s disease develops due to microscopic changes that take place in the brain that damages brain cells and nerves and leads to the physical and cognitive symptoms of the condition. Physical therapy can slow Alzheimer’s disease progression and help individuals maintain physical and cognitive function as much as possible through a targeted exercise program.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by low bone mineral density, decreased bone strength, and changes in bone structure that causes thin, brittle bones and an increased risk of bone fractures. Physical therapy plays a critical role in managing osteoporosis, helping those with osteoporosis maintain and build bone density through a customized therapeutic exercise program. Research has shown that aerobic and resistance exercise effectively stimulate bone osteogenesis in osteoporosis patients, improving bone density and reducing fall risk.

Exercise rehabilitation under the supervision of a physical therapist can help multiple sclerosis patients conserve and regain functional abilities, manage symptoms, and improve quality of life. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that affects the central nervous system and can lead to physical and cognitive impairments. Research suggests that targeted exercise rehabilitation may be the single most effective non-pharmacological symptomatic treatment for multiple sclerosis. A structured rehabilitation program can improve mobility, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients.

Check out our latest blog highlighting 10 tips for exercising in the cold. Exercising outdoors, even in winter, can be very beneficial. Exercising in the cold can actually help you burn more calories, enhance your endurance, positively affect your metabolism, and improve your mental health. However, it is important to take precautions when exercising outdoors in the cold to stay safe. Check out our 10 tips to safely exercise outdoors in the cold!

Heart disease is a systemic cardiovascular disease that can lead to serious cardiac events, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, heart failure, and heart rhythm abnormalities. Regular exercise not only can help prevent the onset and development of cardiovascular disease but also is a critical therapeutic tool to improve outcomes for those with heart disease. Physical therapy can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and improve the function of those with heart disease through a personalized exercise program to improve aerobic capacity, strength, and endurance safely.

Regular exercise can improve your cholesterol levels, lowering your LDL cholesterol and increasing your HDL cholesterol for improved heart health. Cholesterol is a lipid that circulates within our blood. While HDL cholesterol helps in the transport of lipids to the liver for disposal, LDL cholesterol can build up in the wall of our arteries and negatively affect our heart health. Research has shown that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can increase good HDL cholesterol, high-intensity aerobic exercise can lower LDL and triglyceride levels, and moderate-intensity resistance workouts are effective in lowering cholesterol.

Exercise is a crucial component of diabetes management. Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not respond normally to insulin, causing glucose levels in the blood to become too high. Exercise lowers blood sugar by increasing the insulin sensitivity of the body’s cells; as muscles contract, they are better able to use any available insulin to take up glucose for energy. Experts recommend engaging in both aerobic and resistance training exercises to manage blood glucose.