Exercise a natural arthritis pain reliever

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 9 (UPI) -- It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when suffering joint pain, but a U.S. study found physical activity is a natural pain reliever for arthritis.

The study, published in Arthritis Care and Research, said regular exercise -- specifically the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program -- is an effective course in significantly improving and managing arthritis pain.

The basic eight-week Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program consists of low-impact routines with gentle range-of-motion movements that can be done while sitting or standing.

"The study showed that the exercise program is suitable for every fitness level, even inactive older individuals," study author Leigh Callahan of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said in a statement.

"Many people believe the myth that exercise exacerbates their symptoms," said Callaghan. "The truth revealed in the study is that symptoms improved with exercise."

The study said exercise participants reported a decrease in pain and fatigue, an increase in upper- and lower-extremity function and an increase in strength after participating in the basic, eight-week exercise program. Participants who continued the exercise program independently beyond eight weeks sustained improvement in reduced stiffness.