IS EXERCISE GOOD OR BAD FOR ARTHRITIS IN THE ELDERLY

Recreational exercise has achieved great popularity. Possible benefits to participants include increased longevity, decreased risk of cardio vascular disease, improved psychologic well-being, and greater fitness . Important but as yet incompletely answered concerns are whether exer cise or physical overuse conditions play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, which is virtually universal among the elderly, and w hether there are any circumstances in which exercise might be benefici al for elderly patients with arthritis. In humans, anecdotal observati ons have suggested relationships between certain recreational activiti es and degenerative joint disease. The few controlled studies that exi st, however, have indicated that exercise need not be deleterious to j oints. Available data may be interpreted to suggest that reasonable re creational exercise-carried out within limits of comfort, putting join ts through normal motions, and without underlying joint abnormality-ne ed not inevitably lead to joint injury, even over many years. We are a lso witnessing thoughtful reevaluation of physical exercise as a thera peutic modality for arthritis patients. It is possible that certain pa tients may achieve psychologic and clinical benefit from selected exer cise programs.