Welcome to Moving with Arthritis
Arthritis can make it hard to keep active. While some people may find it easy to get started with exercise, others may find it more challenging. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to lead an active and fulfilling life. If you find it hard to get moving or just looking to enhance your existing exercise routine, let us help you.
Moving with arthritis is designed to help people living with arthritis start moving more. We have curated a collection of information resources and exercise programs to encourage you to self-manage your arthritis through improved mobility and wellbeing.
No matter how old you are, what type of arthritis you have, or where you live, we hope this website will help you to become more informed, more active and live better with arthritis.
What is the difference between movement, physical activity and exercise?
This website uses the terms movement, physical activity and exercise, while they are related, they each have different meanings:
Movement
Movement is a broad term that refers to any physical action of the body. It can be intentional or unintentional and range from simple actions like standing, walking, and stretching to complex actions like running. Movement is important for daily function for everyone and usually focuses on activities that we use every day, like reaching, bending, carrying a bag, or pushing a trolley.
Physical activity
Physical activity is also a broad term that encompasses any movement by the body that expends energy. This includes both high-intensity activities like cycling or lifting weights and low-intensity activities like climbing stairs, doing housework, and gardening. Increasing physical activity can help people with arthritis by reducing pain, improving well-being and reducing risk of cardiovascular disease like strokes and heart attacks.
Exercise
Exercise can be described as planned, structured and repetitive physical activities that are performed with the purpose of improving or maintaining physical fitness, such as cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility. Some exercises are designed specifically to help musculoskeletal problems like arthritis or injuries. Some examples of exercise include strengthening exercises, pilates, running, lifting weights, swimming, and cycling. If you have arthritis and want to start exercising for the first time in a while, exercises prescribed for you and supervised by health care professionals such as physiotherapists or exercise physiologists may be safer and will help you understand what level of physical activity is appropriate for you.
Have you been diagnosed with Arthritis?
Amber's Story
Hear about Amber’s exercise journey and how it has helped her arthritis. Want to share your story? Get in touch
Busting myths about exercise and arthritis
Are you concerned that exercise could make your arthritis worse? Here, we have debunked some common myths to help you feel more confident with exercise.
Try our quiz
Try this short quiz to receive recommended programs and resources.
How to get moving
Browse our resources page to help start you on your journey toward a more active life.
Find an exercise program
Search our list of arthritis friendly exercise programs to find one that suits you.
Find professional support
Want exercise advice from a health professional? Click here to find an expert near you.
Infoline
Want to speak to someone directly? Call our free national Arthritis Infoline on 1800 011 041 to speak with specially trained staff for information about arthritis, exercise classes and support groups near you.
