Sport and osteoarthritis: can you continue to play sports?
Contrary to popular belief, practicing sports with osteoarthritis does not worsen the disease.
Adapted physical activity, on the contrary, is beneficial: it strengthens muscles, maintains joint mobility, improves joint lubrication and slows the progression of the pathology.
Dr. Coulin encourages his patients to remain active, taking into account the level of pain and the location of the osteoarthritis (hip, knee, column, hands) and each person's objectives.
A few simple precautions — good warm-up, appropriate equipment, listening to pain signals — often allow you to continue a sporting activity in good conditions, even with established osteoarthritis.
Before resuming or adapting a sporting activity, a medical opinion helps to identify the movements to favor and those to avoid depending on the condition of the joint concerned.
The benefits of movement
In cases of osteoarthritis, prolonged rest is generally not a good strategy. Immobility leads to:
- joint stiffness,
- muscle wasting,
- a loss of balance, which exacerbates the pain and increases the risk of falling.
Conversely, sport adapted to osteoarthritis becomes a true treatment.
Regular and gentle practice allows you to:
- to reduce pain and inflammation,
- to maintain joint flexibility,
- to strengthen the stabilizing muscles,
- to improve quality of life and independence.
Thus, supervised movement is not only permitted: it becomes a central therapeutic tool in the management of osteoarthritis.
Sports recommended by Dr. Coulin
Not all sports are equal when it comes to osteoarthritis. Some protect the joint, while others put additional strain on it. Dr. Coulin generally recommends low joint impact sports :
- Swimming (excluding classic breaststroke, which is too strenuous for the knees).
- The bicycle or elliptical trainer, excellent for cardio and strengthening.
- Regular walking, especially on flat and stable ground.
- Gentle yoga or adapted Pilates, to work on flexibility and balance.
- Water aerobics or gentle gymnastics, which reduces strain thanks to the buoyancy of the water.
These disciplines promote core strength, joint range of motion and muscular endurance, while limiting pressure on the cartilage.
Practices to avoid
Certain sports are not recommended for patients suffering from osteoarthritis, especially in cases of severe pain or advanced osteoarthritis. These mainly include:
- sports involving impacts, jumps or frequent pivots (running, tennis, football, alpine skiing),
- activities with repeated heavy loads (bodybuilding without supervision),
- practices on unstable terrain or involving sudden movements.
This does not mean a definitive ban. These sports can sometimes be practiced, but with a rigorous warm-up, appropriate technique, supervised progression, and careful attention to the body.
Adapting sport to the stage of osteoarthritis
Sports practice must evolve according to the progress of osteoarthritis:
- During painful flare-ups, priority should be given to low-impact activities, such as swimming or gentle cycling.
- During the stable phase, a gradual reintroduction of more varied exercises, respecting joint tolerance.
Dr. Coulin collaborates with specialist physiotherapists to offer personalized programs, adapted to the location of the osteoarthritis, the age and lifestyle of the patient.
Why continue exercising despite osteoarthritis?
The practice of a regular physical activity with osteoarthritis offers several long-term benefits:
- It slows the progression of the disease.,
- It prevents an early loss of independence.,
- It reduces the risk of other diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, overweight),
- It improves morale and overall well-being.
Therefore, moving remains one of the best ways to protect your joints, even when osteoarthritis has set in.
Do you suffer from osteoarthritis and want to stay active?
Dr. Coulin will see you in Geneva to assess your situation, analyze your tests and guide you towards the sports activities best suited to your osteoarthritis.
Thanks to an individualized program, it is possible to relieve your pain, to’maintain your mobility and to avoid surgery that is too early.
