Exercise Equipment for a Person With Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and it affects half the population over 65 years old, according to the AGS Foundation for Health and Aging. The exact cause of the disease is unknown, but it is not considered a regular part of aging. The cartilage in the joints wears down to where the two bones of the joint start rubbing on each other, causing pain, inflammation and sometimes requiring a surgical joint replacement. Exercise helps combat the effects of osteoarthritis and exercise equipment assists in the safe conditioning of the afflicted joints.

Recumbent Bikes

• Recumbent bikes are useful to osteoarthritis patients because they allow the user to sit in a more comfortable and balanced position than traditional stationary bikes. The bike provides variable resistance against the user's legs and this helps build up the muscles in the thighs, which can then ease some of the strain in the knee joints, a common source for osteoarthritis. The bike also helps burn calories, possibly resulting in weight loss, which reduces the daily load the knees have to carry. Regular use of the bike also helps improve the range of motion in the legs and reduces stiffness commonly associated with osteoarthritis.

Rowing Machine

• A rowing machine gives many of the same benefits to an osteoarthritis sufferer's arms that a recumbent bike gives to the legs. Rowing machines are useful for patients because they can sit comfortably in the seat without any additional stress being applied to the back. Both the arms and the legs get a workout and the overall resistance is adjustable to be compatible with the patient's specific needs. Rowing machines help develop the shoulder muscles, which can take some of the stress off of the shoulder joints if arthritis is present, and it is another machine that increases flexibility and range of motion through a repetitive, low-impact movement.

Resistance Bands

• Resistance bands have many applications for osteoarthritis sufferers. They are cheaper than many other forms of exercise equipment so they are cost-effective, and they can be used easily at home regardless of the size of the living space, making them more practical than traditional bulky exercise machines. The bands are made of a thick elastic and are used to isolate various muscle groups. Bands provide resistance during various isometric range-of-motion exercises and help arthritis sufferers combat stiffness and loss of function.