Exercise a Panacea. Part 1: Arthritis

A healthy joint is like two smooth pieces of paper sliding against each other. Arthritis, or joint damage, is like adding crinkles to the papers with the friction causing pain and problems for the patient. However, even in severe cases, and even with bone on bone degeneration, having no pain with “activities of daily living” is easily obtainable with a lot of hard work and the right treatments.

The key is how much protection the muscles are providing. Because the joint is only a fraction of the body’s structural protection (~20%), the remainder (~80%) is all dependent on dynamic muscle protection. It is very common to have strong and healthy muscles, lacking the coordination to protect joints. Any exercise helps build some protection, but most have minuscule levels of protection, necessitating a high volume to feel any benefit. An optimized exercise should allow for significant and immediate improvements.

• All of the latest research confirms that exercise is the closest thing to a real panacea
• Arthritis does not necessitate permanent pain
• Even with bone on bone degeneration, no pain is possible
• Muscles are about 80 percent of the body's support and protection; bones, ligaments, and padding are only about 20 percent
• Any exercise is beneficial, but certain exercises astronomically increase muscle protection

About Kai Morigawara, PT, DPT

Kai Morigawara is a physical therapist practicing in Aiea, HI. Kai Morigawara specializes in physical treatment to help a patient reduce pain, restore mobility, rehabilitate an injury, or increase movement and overall function. As a physical therapist, Kai Morigawara can treat multiple conditions with exercises, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, joint mobilization, heat, ice, massage, laser or light therapy and more. Kai Morigawara will create a treatment plan based on the patients specific injury or condition, and might target a specific body part or body system based on the individual.