‘I'm a Cleveland Clinic Rheumatologist-This Habit Matters More for Arthritis Than Many People Realize'
When you daydream about your golden years, you likely don't envision yourself with joint pain. Unfortunately, arthritis is more common than many people realize, especially for people 65 and older. Nearly half of adults 75 and older have arthritis and it's the leading cause of disability in the U.S.
Arthritis is defined as acute or chronic joint inflammation and symptoms can include joint stiffness, pain, decreased range of motion or joint deformities. Dr. M. Elaine Tse Husni, MD, MPH, a rheumatologist with Cleveland Clinic, explains that there are many different types of arthritis, but the most common type that impacts adults 65 and older is osteoarthritis.
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"Osteoarthritis comes from wear and tear. It happens over time," Dr. Husni tells Parade. She explains that developing osteoarthritis takes decades but eventually causes joint cartilage to wear away, causing bones to get closer together. This, she says, can cause joint stiffness and pain.
While there are medications that can help with managing osteoarthritis, there's one everyday habit that's particularly powerful both in terms of lowering your risk of getting osteoarthritis as well as helping to decrease your pain and stop its progression if you already have it.
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The Best Habit for Preventing or Managing Osteoarthritis
According to Dr. Husni, the most effective way of lowering your risk of osteoarthritis is engaging in daily movement, and daily movement also helps prevent osteoarthritis from getting worse.
"The biggest myth when it comes to arthritis is that moving will make arthritis worse, but actually exercising is the best habit you can have for keeping joints healthy," Dr. Husni says. Knowing that osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear, this guidance can be confusing to hear. But she explains that consistently moving the body through activities where joint load is manageable keeps ligaments healthy.
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Scientific research backs this up, showing that a mix of regular aerobic exercise and weight-bearing exercises increases proteoglycan content, which is one of the major components of the cartilage extracellular matrix, the material that makes up cartilage. In fact, strength training regularly is linked to a decreased rate of space narrowing between the joints.
Dr. Husni notes that consistent exercise is much safer for joint health than going from a sedentary lifestyle to a super active one, which could lead to injury. With this in mind, if you aren't used to exercising regularly, it's best to increase exercise gradually over time.
Related: 'I'm a Rheumatologist and This Is the Little-Known Arthritis Tip I Swear By'
How To Exercise Regularly if You Are Experiencing Pain From Arthritis
Arthritis can be very painful, so if it's a condition you've been diagnosed with, exercising regularly can seem impossible. A great first step is meeting with a rheumatologist. Together, you can discuss potential medications that can help decrease your pain as well as figure out the types of exercise that will help, not hurt.
"Low-impact exercises are the best type of movement for people with osteoarthritis," Dr. Husni says. Walking, swimming, water aerobics, cycling, tai chi, yoga and Pilates are all examples of low-impact exercise.
Dr. Husni recommends that everyone (both people with osteoarthritis and without it) do some form of strength training a couple of times a week. Scientific research shows that regular strength training lowers the risk of osteoarthritis and can benefit adults who have osteoarthritis. When you start strength training, increase your weight load gradually to avoid putting too much pressure on your joints.
While movement is important, it's important not to push through pain. If you feel sharp pain when moving your body a certain way (such as when swinging a pickleball racket), it's important to allow your body time to heal and recover. "It's important to strike a balance. You want your joints to be well-lubricated [through movement], but you don't want to overextend them," Dr. Husni says.
Even though regular movement is helpful for joint health, sometimes medications are needed to relieve pain. With this in mind, Dr. Husni says to talk to your doctor if you have joint pain and regular exercise has not helped.
When it comes to joint health, motion is lotion. Consistently engaging in aerobic exercise and regular strength training is a winning combination when it comes to decreasing your risk for osteoarthritis.
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Sources:
- Arthritis in Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- What Is Arthritis? Arthritis Foundation
- Dr. M. Elaine Tse Husni, MD, MPH, rheumatologist with Cleveland Clinic
- Leong, D. J. and Sun, H. B. (2015). Osteoarthritis-Why Exercise?Journal of Exercise, Sports & Orthopedics. 1(1):04
- Latham, N. and Liu, C. J. (2013). Strength training in older adults: The benefits for osteoarthritis. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. 26(3):445-459
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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 2:25 PM.