Washington, Dec 30 : Arthritis patients who stop exercising due to achy knees and joints could be worsening their condition.

When a person avoids exercise, joints become less mobile and the surrounding muscles shrink, causing increased fatigue and pain.

According to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, regular, modest exercise improves joint stability and strengthens muscles.

Exercise also improves mood, sleep, energy levels and day-to-day functioning.

People with arthritis who exercise regularly report less pain.

A variety of activities that can help people with arthritis, include:

Range-of-motion and flexibility exercises: Activities such as yoga and tai chi increase joint mobility. Doing range-of-motion exercises in the evening can reduce joint stiffness the next morning.

Low-impact aerobics: Aerobic exercise improves overall fitness and endurance as well as muscle function and joint stability. Low-impact options include water aerobics, swimming, bicycling, walking or using equipment such as treadmills and elliptical trainers.

trengthening: Strength training builds the muscles around the joints to provide better support. These exercises may be done with one's own body weight for resistance, with hand-held weights, resistance bands or weight machines.

Lifestyle: Many everyday activities-gardening and housework-provide the health benefits of moderate physical activities.