Last updated: December 12, 2024 x

Learn about arthritis and osteoporosis and how to manage them with a healthy lifestyle, including regular movement and a balanced diet. 

Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation of one or more joints, resulting in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis with the two most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

If you suffer from arthritis, daily movement and healthy eating can help. Regular physical activity can reduce pain and swelling, improve day-to-day function and improve energy and sleep.  Learn about the different types of arthritis and how to manage symptoms, stay active and eat well:

• Arthritis Canada 
• Active For Health: For persons with arthritis 
• Quick tips: Exercising safely with arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that affects the whole joint, including bone, cartilage and ligaments. Symptoms, such as pain and swelling, and fear of harming joints can lead to avoiding movement. Research shows that regular physical activity is effective for the management of osteoarthritis, especially when it affects the hip and knee.  Learn more:

• Osteoarthritis
• Exercise and osteoarthritis
• Osteoarthritis: Exercising with arthritis
• Physiotherapy for knee arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and pain in multiple joints of the body. Being physically active is an important way to improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, it decreases pain, stiffness and fatigue. Learn more::

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Exercise for rheumatoid arthritis

Gout occurs when high levels of uric acid cause crystals to form in your joints and soft tissues, leading to inflammation, pain and swelling. Learn more about gout and how your diet can help lower the risk of gout attacks:

• Gout 
• Eating guidelines for gout

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common type of arthritis that affects children. It is a broad term that includes several different diseases and symptoms can vary depending on the type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Regular physical activity is an important part of juvenile idiopathic arthritis management and may prevent long-term consequences of the disease. Learn more:

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Range-of-motion exercises
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Stretching and strengthening exercises

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system causing pain throughout the body. Unlike arthritis, fibromyalgia does not cause inflammation or damage to affected areas but like arthritis, it causes pain and fatigue. These symptoms, and fear of worsening these symptoms, can lead to avoiding movement. But physical activity can improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia as long as it is tailored to person’s condition and ability and gradually progressed over time.  Learn more:

• Fibromyalgia 
• Exercise and fibromyalgia

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, which can cause bones to become weak and break. People with osteoporosis are more likely to break or fracture their bones, usually in the hip, spine, wrist, and shoulder. Weight-bearing exercises and a balanced diet can help prevent osteoporosis or stop it from getting worse. Learn more:

• Osteoporosis
• Weight-bearing exercises to maintain healthy bones
• Too fit to fracture (Osteoporosis Canada)
• Calcium and your health (HealthLinkBC File #68d)
• Vitamin D and your health (HealthLinkBC File #68n)
• Bone and muscle health (Osteoporosis Canada)