8 Ways Exercise Helps Your Joints

Staying physically active has numerous benefits for both your overall health and your joints affected by arthritis. 

Exercise is recognized for its ability to improve cardiovascular health and balance, strengthen muscles and promote range of motion and flexibility. But regular physical activity also plays a crucial role in the health of your joints. Here’s how:

The joint is surrounded by soft tissue called the synovial membrane, which produces a fluid that acts like oil in an engine, allowing your bones to move past one another more smoothly. Physical activity stimulates the production of synovial fluid, says Susan Sterling, former director of education at the Cooper Institute, a preventive medicine research and education nonprofit in Dallas. Increasing fluid through movement of the joints helps prevent stiffness and keeps joints agile.