Arthritis is the most common joint disease in the world. It refers to the progressive loss of mobility in joints caused by the wear and tear of articular cartilage. As a result, the cushioning function of cartilage is no longer provided and the bones underneath the cartilage are subjected to increased stress. In advanced arthritis, the joint bones consequently rub against each other. This causes severe pain and loss of mobility.
Arthritis is directly linked to our lifestyle. For example, obesity, a bad diet and a lack of exercise can influence joint disease.
However, too much athletic stress, like in high-level sports, can also contribute to wear and tear on our joints. Muscle tightness, tension, cramps, overexertion and tight fascia also affect our ability to move smoothly, leading to excessive wear and tear on the joints.
Coxarthritis syndrome refers to deterioration of the hip joint. It often leads to restricted movement and pain that can spread to the buttocks or knee joint. In extreme cases of progressive arthritis, the joint has to be replaced by a prosthesis.
Gonarthritis is arthritis affecting the knee joint and is the most common joint disease in adults worldwide. Affected individuals usually feel pain when bending their knees, or when climbing stairs, but also after sitting or lying down for long periods of time. A typical symptom is also “initial pain”, which improves after a few minutes of movement.
These two types of arthritis are especially common because of the importance of our hips and knees. These joints bear our entire body weight and are therefore subjected to greater stress during everyday movements.
Because of the pain, many people simply don’t want to move. But the less you move, the worse the pain gets. Exercising on the bellicon rebounder can help you to enjoy physical activity again. The bellicon's smooth, low-impact performance is gentle on joints. So, little by little, you’ll start enjoying exercise again.