Osteoarthritis - what role does nutrition play?

Preventing age-related arthrosis - but how?

Scientific studies have long proven the effectiveness of a healthy diet against diseases of civilisation such as osteoarthritis. Weight control is just as important as an active lifestyle. If you also avoid harmful risk factors, you will create a strong foundation for your health. We will show you what you can do to stay fit for a long time and to prevent complaints or avoid them in the first place.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that can lead to pain, stiffness and restricted movement. While a healthy bone is covered with a protective layer of cartilage at the end of the joint, this is absent or only rudimentary when the tissue undergoes pathological changes. In extreme cases, a situation occurs where bone rubs on bone. This stage of the disease is irreversible and associated with considerable pain, so the focus should be on preserving healthy cartilage mass. In this respect, it is particularly important to take preventive action, even if complaints have not yet manifested themselves or have manifested themselves only slightly.

Inactivity threatens loss of mobility

Osteoarthritis typically progresses in three main phases, which are associated with the following symptoms:

  • Early stage: At the beginning of osteoarthritis, the first signs may appear, such as mild joint pain, stiffness after rest or a grinding sensation in the joint. The cartilage may already be damaged, but the symptoms may not yet be severe.

  • Middle stage: In this stage, the symptoms increase. The pain becomes more intense and occurs more frequently, especially when the affected joint is strained or moved. Stiffness after rest may last longer and the mobility of the joint may be limited. Inflammation may occur, leading to swelling and overheating of the joint.

  • Advanced stage: At this stage, the pain and functional limitation of the joint are severe. The cartilage is further worn down and the joint surfaces may be deformed. The mobility of the joint is severely restricted and everyday activities can only be carried out with great difficulty or not at all. The inflammation can become chronic, leading to permanent swelling and joint stiffness and forcing you into immobility.

Osteoarthritis almost inevitably worsens over time if left untreated. However, early diagnosis and treatment as well as prevention on several levels can help to slow down the progression of the disease and even prevent it altogether, thus maintaining or decisively improving your quality of life. It is therefore advisable in any case to consult a doctor, if possible before the first signs or at the latest when joint pain persists or arthrosis is suspected, who can make a precise and confirmed diagnosis and recommend suitable treatment.
Do you already suffer from the following symptoms? Then you should definitely seek advice from a doctor:

  • Joint pain and stiffness
  • chronic pains
  • Functional disorders of the joints

Act now, take care of prevention today so that you will still be fit tomorrow. Try out our free trial training.

What options do I have to prevent and counteract osteoarthritis?

You want to strengthen your health, maintain it for as long as possible or alleviate complaints? This decision represents an important first step in your new life. In addition to a healthy diet, you can prevent or alleviate osteoarthritis with specific strength training if you already have the disease.

Scientific studies clearly prove the effectiveness of sport against bone loss. The medically based Kieser Training supports you in the targeted prevention of osteoarthritis. Training with weights and performing specific exercises help to improve muscle strength and bone stability. By constantly training the muscles around the bones, additional support is created for the bone structure. It is important to take preventive action before the onset of the first complaints.

How strength training helps with osteoarthritis disease

Common assumptions that joint problems caused by osteoarthritis should be countered with rest are demonstrably wrong, because:

  • Strength training improves the stability and function of your joints
  • Strength training strengthens your muscles and thus reduces the pressure on your cartilage
  • Strength training increases blood flow and nutrient transport to your joints
  • Strength training relieves pain and stiffness
  • Strength training promotes the reduction of excess fat tissue
  • Strength training increases your self-confidence and well-being for a
    better quality of life

You want to learn more about health-oriented strength training? In this case, a gym that is knowledgeable about medical expertise and effective forms of therapy for osteoarthritis is recommended. This is not the case with every gym. What is special about Kieser is that it allows you to train your deep back extensors in the lumbar and cervical spine. These muscles are often weakened or atrophied in osteoarthritis patients, causing pain and discomfort. With Kieser's computer-assisted back and neck machines, you can specifically build and strengthen these muscles. The training is medically controlled and takes place under the supervision of an experienced instructor. Usually 12 to 18 sessions are enough to significantly reduce or eliminate pain. You strengthen your joints, your pain is reduced and your quality of life improves noticeably. Kieser is the leading provider of medical strength training in Switzerland and Germany and offers you professional supervision by qualified trainers and physiotherapists, modern equipment with specially designed machines for all muscle groups and an individual training programme according to your goals and needs.

Medically sound expert advice

Dr Wimmer clarifies: "Studies show a positive significant connection between strength training and osteoarthritis. Scientific tests have shown that regular strength training can slow the progression of osteoarthritis and alleviate symptoms. It also counteracts muscle imbalances that promote stressed joint function and thus osteoarthritis. By strengthening the muscles around the affected joint, the load on the joint itself can be reduced," says the physician.

Frequently asked questions about osteoarthritis - what you need to know!

Practical tips for your optimal training start

What is the cause of osteoarthritis, are women particularly at risk?

The exact cause of osteoarthritis is not always clear, as it is influenced by various factors. It is thought to be a complex condition with both genetic predisposition and environmental factors playing a role. Some of the main causes and risk factors for osteoarthritis are age and obesity, and in some cases gender. Statistically, it is indeed the case that women develop osteoarthritis slightly more often than men.

Here are the 7 main causes of osteoarthritis disease

Osteoarthritis: risk factors and causes

Inflammatory joints
Age-related wear and tear
Overweight

What is good osteoarthritis prevention?

To prevent osteoarthritis, it is important to promote strength, coordination and endurance. Regular exercise, a nutrition plan that provides you with sufficient minerals and ideally the right vitamins as a supplement are also existential for your success. However, from our experience, without the guidance of a specifically trained trainer, it is difficult to implement prevention permanently and thus sustainably on your own. The fear of doing something wrong and harming oneself is too great instead of doing something good for the body. At Kieser, you get a specially coordinated selection of equipment and exercises that are also tailored to you - for maximum efficiency.
In addition, pay attention to your diet. Excess weight is detrimental to health anyway. It is generally advisable to avoid an unhealthy diet also with regard to other diseases of civilisation. A vitamin-rich diet helps your body on many levels. The following nutrition tips will help you alleviate osteoarthritis or maintain your cartilage health. As you can see, it is not only about your weight, but also about what you eat. This may sound complicated at first, but it also has benefits. With a healthy diet, you not only prevent osteoarthritis, it also positively supports your overall health. Your body will thank you for it, and you will benefit from it especially as you get older. That is why we have prepared a plan for you, which you can use to easily find out what constitutes a healthy diet and which vitamins should definitely not be missing. Ofcourse, you can also use food supplements after consulting your doctor, but these can never completely replace a balanced diet.

Is osteoarthritis curable?

The bad news first: Unfortunately, it is not possible to cure osteoarthritis. According to the current state of research, it is a degenerative bone disease. But there is reason for hope. The latest scientific approaches found indications that cartilage tissue can also regenerate under certain circumstances. In any case, it is important to take measures early on so that you can avoid wear and tear as far as possible.

Regular sport
Healthy diet
Adequate vitamin intake
Minimise risk factors

How health-oriented strength training helps

Welella (66)

“Thanks to the special Kieser strength training, I feel stronger, more mobile and my arthritis pain has decreased significantly."

Eva (55)

“I invest preventively in my health to prevent osteoarthritis and strengthen my joints so that I can continue to lead an active and pain-free life in the future.”

Bernd (64)

“Strength training helps me manage my osteoarthritis and strengthen my muscles so that my life is fun again.”

Our mission

At Kieser Training, our mission is to raise awareness of a healthy body and encourage you to take preventative measures.
Our experienced instructors will help you by offering advice and support at all times.
Sign up now for a free introductory training session without obligation and take the first step towards a pain-free and active future.

What is the right diet for osteoarthritis?