Arthritis Insights

A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare identifies ‘back pain’ was one of the top 5 specific diseases causing ‘burden’ in 2022. The other top 5 specific diseases included coronary heart disease, dementia, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), and anxiety disorders. *** The term ‘burden’ or ‘burden...

Finding the energy and time to work out is tough enough when you’re not traveling, so it’s no surprise that exercise can go off the rails when you’re on the road. With some planning, you can fit it into any trip, says Brian Housle, an exercise physiologist and fitness...

The festive season is here and can be a busy time of the year cooking, shopping, gathering with family and friends, but most of all, decorating for the holidays. If you live with a chronic condition, such as arthritis, it is important to look after your joints and manage...

Q: It’s a difficult topic to talk about, but my RA can get in the way of intimacy with my partner. I can be extremely fatigued, often not be “in the mood”, can find it hard to be flexible, and sometimes I get genital dryness. What, if anything, can...

An inflamed, hot or painful joint needs rest, but too little movement over longer periods can cause muscle weakness, pain and stiffness. It’s important to find the right balance of rest and exercise. Here’s some information to help you find your balance. When you have pain it can be...

Learn how certain lifestyle behaviours can impact your arthritis and heart health. Smoking Smoking is a main risk factor for arthritis, making up around 20% of the risks. Research has shown that current smokers had more pain and were more likely to have cartilage loss and joint damage than...

Q: I have arthritis in my spine. Other than pain, I can often feel stiff and have trouble bending down to the floor from a standing position or taking a deep breath. Do you know any good exercises to help with my stiffness? A: Thank you for your question,...

Following an anti-inflammatory diet will not cure arthritis, however for many people it is an effective way of controlling symptoms, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of developing other health problems.  Recent studies have also found that a diet high in ultra-processed food (one of the things...