YORK, Pa. — The first two months of the year can be brutal for seniors who struggle with arthritis. Staying active is one of the best ways to fight it off.
"Arthritis is very common and specifically the wear and tear that we see in our elderly," said Angela Bensing, a physical therapist at Albright LIFE in Lancaster.
That's especially true in the winter, when the condition typically gets worse.
"It can be because of the barometric pressure changes, it can make a difference in your body and the joints, so you tend to feel it more in damp cold weather," Bensing said. "So the key is to keep moving. Research shows that the more active you are even when you have arthritis, it lowers your pain level and inflammation by almost 40%," she said.
Dr. Samuel Hall is the medical director and physician at four Albright LIFE locations. He agrees with Bensing and says the exercise doesn't need to be anything high-impact.
"Whether that's shifting our weight from side to side--kind of like tai chi, or even water aerobics--can help alleviate the pain of arthritis," Dr. Hall said. "We can also use a lot of over the counter creams now that Voltaren arthritis cream is available over the counter. Also Biofreeze, or Tiger Balm--these are different types of creams that help alleviate pain in the areas that people are having issues with."
Of course, the easiest way to treat arthritis is to not develop it.
"To help prevent that, really try staying active and mobile, trying your best to do exercise at least 20-30 minutes a day, even if it's something as simple as walking," Dr. Hall said.
Albright LIFE is a comprehensive medical and social health care system that is available for underserved people 55 and older who have complex medical conditions and are having difficulty thriving in their community. The program is offered by Pennsylvania LIFE Provider Alliance (PALPA) as an affordable way for seniors to receive in-home assistance.