Skip to main content
MCHS_Logo_2024_BLACK
  • Patient Portal
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services

      Featured Services

      • Cardiology (Heart)
      • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (Digestive Care)
      • Neurosurgery
      • Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN)
      • Oncology (Cancer)
      • Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery (Bones)
      • Primary Care
      • Spine Care
      • Sports Medicine
      • Surgery
      • Urology

      View all services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Lake City
      • Lake Crystal
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Rochester
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals

    Recent Posts

    • Charlie Pierce
      Patient Stories
      The sound of success: How improved hearing aids career change
      May 01, 2025
    • Produce aisle shopping
      Speaking of Health
      Want to reduce chronic inflammation? Start with your grocery list
      April 24, 2025
    • Know Your Numbers Cholesterol
      Speaking of Health
      Know your numbers: Cholesterol
      April 24, 2025
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight-loss (Bariatric) Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Friday, January 17, 2020

    How to keep moving with arthritis

    Topics in this Post
    • Arthritis
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Pain Relief
    Mature couple folded hands meditation

    Creak, creak, creak. If achy joints have you feeling like the Tin Man, don't just chalk it up to getting older. Those aches and pains could signal something more serious. And treatable. No oil required.

    "Arthritis is a common cause of joint pain and stiffness," says Jacob Ziegler, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minnesota. "It affects millions of people, and you don't have to be as old as you might think to develop it. People of all ages have arthritis."

    Two types of arthritis pain

    There are two main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

    "Osteoarthritis is most common and the one people are most familiar with," says Robert Cates, D.O., an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, Minnesota. "It's caused by wear and tear of the cartilage in the joints."

    If that wear and tear gets bad enough, the cartilage can become so damaged that your bones rub against each other. That can be painful and limit your movement.

    The other common type of arthritis — rheumatoid — is an autoimmune disorder. Your body's immune system attacks itself, causing your joints to become inflamed and swollen. Eventually, your joints may become deformed.

    Arthritis treatment options

    "There are a number of treatments you can try to reduce pain and have more function," Dr. Ziegler says.

    Common treatments include medication, including over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Your health care provider may recommend prescription medications, depending on the type of arthritis and symptoms you're having. There also are medications that can be injected directly into your joints to relieve pain.

    All treatments have the same mission.

    "The goal of arthritis treatment is to improve function and reduce pain," Dr. Cates says.

    While arthritis may leave you feeling like taking it easy, gentle exercise may be just what the doctor ordered.

    "People might not feel like going to the gym when they are in pain," Dr. Ziegler says. "But regular exercise has a host of benefits for people who have arthritis. It really does help keep joints flexible. Typically, low-impact exercise is best tolerated. Things like pool exercises, bicycle or elliptical tend to keep you moving with less aggravation of the pain."

    Other benefits include strengthening the muscles around the joints, maintaining bone strength, and improving energy and mood. Low-impact activities, such as swimming and yoga, are good choices.

    Exercise also can help with weight loss and management. That's important because extra weight can stress your joints.

    Your diet also can play a role in managing pain.

    "What you eat can have an impact on how you feel," Dr. Cates says. "Avoid processed foods, carbohydrates and unhealthy fats when possible because these can contribute to inflammation. Instead, choose to eat more fruit, vegetables, whole grains and fish as part of a healthy diet."

    If your pain persists despite nonsurgical treatments, you may benefit from surgery. Options include joint fusion, repair or replacement.

    Topics in this Post
    • Arthritis
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Pain Relief

    Related Posts

    Hands holding knee because of pain Get the facts about knee pain
    Looking out a window 5 most common types of chronic pain treated by neurosurgeons
    Person holding leg joint What you need to know about aching joints

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Price Transparency
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Manage Cookie
    © 2018 - 2025 Mayo Clinic Health System