Exercise is beneficial to joints suffering from wear-and-tear arthritis.

Exercise is beneficial to patients with wear-and-tear joint arthritis and should be considered a “core treatment,” according to new NHS draught guidelines.

Stretching may be painful at first, but it can help people with osteoarthritis stay supple, healthy, and lean, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It is not necessary to perform scans to identify it, and strong painkillers are not advised. No evidence of rinsing the joint help.

Osteoarthritis is quite widespread, affecting around 7.4 million people in England over the age of 45.

It can occur when the joints become injured as a result of ageing or an accident. Another risk factor is being overweight.

Some people only experience minor signs and symptoms. Others may experience significant pain, stiffness, and swelling.

This can make exercise challenging, but according to the new NICE guidelines, physical activity, not medicine, should be the primary treatment.

The charity Arthritis Action hopes that the guidelines will reassure people with osteoarthritis that exercise is a beneficial treatment option.

Exercise strengthens muscles and aids in the maintenance of a healthy weight, both of which are crucial in the management of osteoarthritis.

If pain persists, use an anti-inflammatory cream or gel, or take ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicine, but not a strong opioid, according to the recommendation.

Arthritis charities are concerned that too many patients are prescribed pain relievers instead of receiving the appropriate treatment, such as exercise therapy or a timely hip or knee replacement.

Many people who require surgery are still waiting due to a backlog of surgeries caused by the outbreak.

According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), joint replacement may be the best option for some people, and hospitals should not turn away people who could benefit but are overweight. Obesity is not a barrier to the surgery, but losing weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise will reduce joint strain.