Physical Activity Helps Arthritis Pain

Learn how physical activity can ease arthritis pain over time.

For many adults with arthritis, severe joint pain reduces their quality of life and limits what activities they do. Physical activity programs can help reduce arthritis pain.

Physical Activity Programs to Reduce Arthritis Pain

About 15 million US adults with arthritis report having severe joint pain. That is pain at a seven or higher on a scale of zero (no pain) to ten (as bad as it can be). Joint pain can interfere with daily activities such as:

Carrying groceries
Holding a cup
Walking to the car

Physical activity can be a good way to manage and reduce arthritis pain. CDC promotes several evidence-based physical activity programs that can help reduce arthritis pain. These programs use low-impact, arthritis-appropriate exercises and include activities such as:

Walking
Biking
Swimming

These programs can help adults with arthritis of all fitness levels engage in physical activity. For adults with arthritis and severe joint pain, providers can recommend a staged approach to gradually increase physical activity.

Self-management education workshops such as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) can also help adults with arthritis learn strategies to manage pain in daily life.

For a full list and descriptions of recommended and promising physical activity and self-management education workshops, visit the CDC Arthritis Program’s Lifestyle Management Programs page.