Donna Mills, 85, Urges Daily Exercise to Avoid Knee and Hip Replacements

Q: How did she overcome an arthritis diagnosis to maintain her demanding daily workout routine?

There is no reported, specific account in the available material of how Donna Mills overcame arthritis in order to keep up her daily workouts. What the reporting does show is that Mills has long credited consistency as her main strategy. She said she exercises almost every day, plays tennis regularly, and believes stopping physical activity makes it much harder to regain strength and mobility later. In her telling, the key was not a one-time fix after diagnosis, but maintaining movement over time. The additional material notes that she was diagnosed with arthritis years ago and later became a spokeswoman for B.E.A.T., but it does not describe a treatment plan, rehabilitation program, medication regimen, or any particular adaptation she used to manage the condition while staying active. That said, her approach is broadly consistent with medical guidance for older adults and many people with arthritis: regular, sustained exercise can help preserve joint function, muscle strength, balance, and overall mobility. But in Mills’ case, the public record provided here supports only this much: she appears to have managed by continuing to exercise consistently, not by publicly detailing a specific arthritis-recovery method.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 10

Donna Mills said staying fit into her 80s "takes work," urging people to keep exercising continuously rather than trying to restart after long breaks.
The 85-year-old actress said she works out almost every day and often plays tennis, crediting that routine with avoiding knee or hip replacements.
Mills, who started as a dancer, said years without exercise after having children or reaching a certain age can leave losses that are hard to regain.
Even a few weeks off makes restarting painful, she said, but stretching and regular workouts help the body recover within three or four days.