Arthritis sufferers failing to manage condition

Two thirds of people with arthritis in Ireland are failing to manage their condition properly, it has emerged.

Arthritis Ireland is concerned that 64% of people with arthritis are avoiding exercise because of high levels of pain or fear of worsening their condition.

The results are at odds with overwhelming scientific evidence that exercise plays a vital role in controlling the symptoms of arthritis.

The online study, involving around 600 people and run over six months, found that fitness (37%) and reducing joint pain (22%) are the main motivators for exercise among those who are active.

RTÉ’s John Murray, who launched Arthritis Ireland’s flagship Get your Joints in Motion campaign yesterday, said becoming a keen walker helped keep his arthritis in check.

“Having been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis when I was just 18, I’m fully aware that sometimes even a short walk can feel like a marathon,” he said.

“However, exercise has many benefits when you have arthritis and I know my joints feel healthier after a good walk,” he said.

Arthritis affects one in five people in Ireland, with 60% of those affected under 65 years old.

The Get Your Joints in Motion campaign that culminates in a walk in the Phoenix Park on May 5 is to encourage arthritis sufferers take gentle exercise to help manage their condition.

The online survey found that walking is by far the most popular exercise among people with arthritis, with 50% of those who are active describing it as their physical activity of choice.

Arthritis Ireland says walking lubricates and supports damaged joints by strengthening the muscles surrounding them, while chemicals released by the brain during exercise reduce pain and inflammation.

Arthritis Ireland chief executive John Church said the Phoenix Park walk will also raise vital funds for the provision of pain management and support services for people with arthritis around Ireland, as well a long-term investment in medical research.

* www.arthritisireland.ie.