05/01/2026
May is Arthritis Awareness Month — a condition that quietly affects the way millions of people live every single day.
Over 53 million Americans are living with arthritis. While the joint changes are real, lifestyle factors significantly influence pain levels, progression, and quality of life.
🔬 Diet matters. A Mediterranean-style diet — rich in fish, olive oil, vegetables, and whole grains — is the only dietary pattern recommended by the American College of Rheumatology for arthritis. It reduces inflammation and improves pain.
😴 Sleep matters. Poor sleep activates inflammatory pathways and increases pain sensitivity — and pain, in turn, worsens sleep. Breaking this cycle can meaningfully reduce symptoms.
💪 Movement reduces pain. Regular physical activity — walking, swimming, strengthening exercises — reduces pain and improves function. Low-impact exercise does not accelerate joint damage. The most important thing is to stay active.
⚖️ Weight management protects joints. Every pound lost reduces about four pounds of load on the knee. Losing just 5–10% of body weight can meaningfully reduce pain and improve function.
🦴 Strength supports joints. Weakness around an arthritic joint contributes to pain. Even low-intensity strengthening exercises can improve function and are recommended as part of arthritis care.
Arthritis is complex and every person’s experience with it is different. But the conversation around it deserves to go beyond symptom management.
We’ll be sharing more throughout the month.
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