Health Professionals > Physicians > Professional Resources > Practice Reference
| Arthritis and Exercise Glossary |
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-a-
Aerobic exercise:
Exercise that requires continuous, rhythmic motion of large muscle groups
such as the quadriceps. Swimming, running, and walking are examples of aerobic exercise.
Aerobic exercise also improves the ability to perform activities of daily living.
Ankylosing spondylitis:
See spondyloarthropathies.
Arthritis:
The term arthritis literally means joint inflammation, but it also is
used to refer to more than 100 rheumatic diseases. These diseases can cause pain,
stiffness, and swelling in joints and may also affect other parts of the body.
Atrophy:
Decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue. When muscles
are not used, they atrophy (get smaller and weaker).
-b-
Biofeedback:
A way to enhance a body signal so that one is aware of something
that usually occurs at a level below consciousness. An electronic device provides
information about a body function (such as heart rate) so that the person using
biofeedback can learn to control that function. Biofeedback can help people with
arthritis learn to relax their muscles. In this case, an electronic device amplifies
the sound of a muscle contracting, so the arthritis patient knows that the muscle
is not relaxed.
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