If you have osteoarthritis (OA), you’re no stranger to pain, stiffness, and soreness in your joints and muscles. The last thing you may feel like doing with OA is moving, but ironically, exercise can play a major role in maintaining and improving your ability to move. Don’t worry: There’s no need to run a marathon to reap the benefits of exercise with OA. These five simple exercises can help you strengthen your body while easing the discomfort caused by this condition. Let’s get started! iStock Exercise Makes You Stronger When you strengthen muscles, you protect and support nearby joints and improve their function. This is especially important if you have OA. “Resistance training is an excellent treatment option if you live with OA,” says certified personal trainer Aundra Anderson of Centreville Maryland. “Strengthening your muscles can ultimately lead to less pain and greater mobility for everyday life.” Aleksandra Radjen, DPT, a physical therapist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio agrees: “Strength-based exercises can help take the stress off the affected joint.”