Introduction
As an older adult, or as someone who has been diagnosed with arthritis, you may feel like you are not enough. You may think that because of your diagnosis, you are not healthy enough to do the things you love. But I’m here to tell you: it’s okay to be an athlete and have arthritis! As someone who has lived with a chronic illness for over two decades now (and yes, it’s been 20 years since my diagnosis!), I can tell you that there is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to being old and active.
You can have arthritis and be an athlete.
You can be an athlete with arthritis. You can be a successful athlete with arthritis. You can live a healthy lifestyle and still have OA. You can have a positive attitude, too!
You may feel like you are alone in your struggle to get back on the field or court after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA), but you’re not. I was diagnosed at age 19, right after college and right before my first season as a professional athlete—an incredibly frustrating time for me because I had been training hard for years and finally felt ready to compete on some level other than just for fun. It’s true that sports injuries have always been more common among athletes than non-athletes, but those statistics don’t tell us anything about the prevalence of arthritis among athletes because most studies lump all types together under “arthritis.”
You can have arthritis and be a success at the things you love to do.
You can still be successful at what you love to do. You can still be a good parent, partner and friend. You can still be a good student, employee and employee.
You can live with a disease and still feel strong.
You can live with a disease and still feel strong. You can have osteoarthritis and still be an athlete. You can have osteoarthritis, or any other chronic illness, and still be a success at the things you love to do
You don’t have to give up on your dreams because you live with joint pain. I am living proof of that!
You are much more than your diagnosis.
You are much more than your diagnosis.
You know what it’s like when people look at you and see only the disease, but I hope that this article will help you see yourself differently—and maybe even help other people see you differently as well. You are so much more than your arthritis. You’re an athlete, or a writer, or a coach, or whatever else it is that makes you feel successful in life. And while we all have challenges to overcome each day (some physical and some mental) I want you to know that with hard work and perseverance there’s nothing stopping anyone from living their dream life!
I could go on about how being an athlete isn’t defined by age or ability level or even by having arthritis; however in this article I’d rather focus on how being an athlete can actually improve your quality of life for the better if done correctly! Please don’t let arthritis hinder any dreams of yours because let me tell ya’, when done correctly training regimens can actually improve joint function over time–which means less pain! So get out there today and do something active whether it be going for a walk around the block once per day (or twice), riding bikes with friends every weekend morning after breakfast together…whatever works best for YOU! The key here is doing something active regularly so try different activities until eventually one sticks with us enough where we start enjoying ourselves immensely.”
The stigmas of being an older adult, or being inactive, or not caring about your health, don’t apply to every adult with arthritis.
You can be an athlete with arthritis. You can be a success at the things you love to do with arthritis. You can live with a disease and still feel strong with it, but some days will be better than others. And you are much more than your diagnosis—you are a person who has an impact on other people’s lives, whether it’s through your physical strength or emotional support.
Conclusion
Osteoarthritis is a disease that can make everyday life challenging. But it doesn’t have to stop you from living a full and active life. When you’re diagnosed with arthritis, it’s important to know that there are many tools available to help manage your symptoms: medications, physical therapy, exercise programs and other treatments or interventions that can help reduce pain and improve mobility. You should also know that there are people out there who want to support you on this journey! If you’re reading this article because someone close has just been diagnosed with arthritis