Anatomy of Man by Limbourg Brothers
“Arthritis” is one of those general terms like “diabetes” that people tend to use a bit loosely. They’ll say, for example, “I have arthritis.” But there are actually three types of arthritis, and although they all affect your joints, they are actually quite different. So it’s important to distinguish between the types (just as it’s important to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which are also very different).Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. In this type of arthritis, aging, injury, or obesity wears down or damages the cartilage on the ends of your bones. This results in joint pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other is an auto-immune disease that causes inflammation in the lining of the joints, resulting in pain and swelling that eventually can cause erosion of the bones and deformity of the joints (and, in some people, inflammation in—and damage to—other body parts, such as the lungs, heart and blood vessels, skin, or eyes). Menopausal arthritis, also known as arthralgia, causes swelling, stiffness, or pain in the joints as a result of hormonal changes during menopause.
Although the causes and symptoms of these three types of arthritis are different (and they need very different treatment from a western medical perspective), all three can benefit from yoga. As a matter of fact, a recent study that I wrote about in Yoga Helps Both Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis showed that the same yoga classes that included breath work, chanting, asanas, deep relaxation, and meditation were as beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis as they were for osteoarthritis.
This is because exercise is very beneficial for all types of arthritis, as it reduces joint pain, builds strength (needed to support the joints), improves mobility, and reduces fatigue (see Arthritis, Exercise, and Yoga). And yoga’s pain management techniques (see How Yoga Helps with Pain), including breath work, deep relaxation, and meditation, are also very helpful. However, it is still important to be aware of which type of arthritis you have and to address it specficially.
Because we have been writing about arthritis for years, I thought today I’d link to all the individual posts we have on the topic, which separate headings for each of the three types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis will be last because we have so many posts on that topic.
Menopausal Arthritis
Yoga for Menopause: Joint Problems by Shari gives a really good overview of this type of arthritis—something that Shari suffers from—and provides several recommendations for how to use yoga to help with this condition.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Although as of now we don’t YET have a specific post on rheumatoid arthritis (coming soon!), we do have information on inflammation in general as well as pain management.
For information on inflammation:
Chronic Inflammation and Yoga: Combating the Fiery Killer
Chronic Inflammation and Yoga: An Update
Yoga's Healing Powers
For overviews of using yoga for pain, management see:
How Yoga Helps with Pain
Techniques for Managing Pain with Yoga
Friday Practice Pointers: Changing Your Relationship with Pain
Osteoarthritis
We have two general posts on osteoarthritis:
Yoga for Osteoarthritis: An Interview with Shari Ser
Yoga for Arthritis: Caroline's Story
We have several posts on osteoarthritis in individual joints:
Arthritis of the Spine
Arthritis of the Spine, Part 2
Arthritis of the Shoulder and Yoga
Arthritis of the Knees and Yoga
Yoga and Arthritis of the Hands
5 Tips for People with Arthritis of the Hands
Arthritis of the Thumbs
Arthritis of the Hip Joint
We also have a series on joint replacements:
Delaying Joint Replacement Surgery
Do You Really Need Knee Replacement Surgery?
Knee Replacements and Yoga
Preparing for Knee Replacement Surgery
Total Hip Replacements and Yoga
Friday Q&A: Preparing for a Hip Replacement
Friday Q&A: Modifying Poses for a Hip Replacement
Friday Q&A: Helping a Student with a Hip Joint Replacement
Friday Q&A: Physical Therapy for Hip Joint Replacements
Yoga and Shoulder Joint Replacements
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