Contact your physician or physical therapist for some excellent material on exercises for arthritis. Arthritis sufferers can still strengthen their joints by placing light loads on the joints rather than massive weight lifting. The key to appropriate weight lifting is understanding what amounts your joints can tolerate. A generally bad idea is for the arthritic to work out on a Nautilus machine because it places too much strain on joints. Isometric exercises such as quad and hamstring sets and straight leg raises are ideal because they ease the load the joint must bear.
Aquatic therapy is also beneficial due to the reduced load placed on the joint.
Good posture habits and correctly fitted shoes should also help the person with arthritis. When lifting, squat, when reaching, turn, your entire body, don't twist. These habits allow your body to remain in good condition. Arthritis may case a lifetime of pain, disability and hopelessness if it is allowed to get firm grip on your body. However, osteoarthritis is not a crippling disease like rheumatoid arthritis.