Arthritis Exercises

November 12, 2009 Filed Under: Arthritis

Arthritis can keep people from exercising – when the joints are inflamed, exercises and activities like walking or weight training can become very painful and difficult. These are challenges that can be overcome, though.

Once you are told that you have arthritis, your lifestyle has to change. The normal workout routine you used to follow must change. Your doctor will give you a treatment plan, which will include foods and exercises that will be good for you, and ones that you must avoid. Usually, you will be advised to avoid exercises that are hard on the joints. You might also have to give up some of the food you love – red meat, processed foods, additives and dairy products are known to aggravate the condition.

Exercises that help keep arthritis in check cover a whole range of activities. Yoga and tai chi not only keep your body fit, but also keep your mind calm and focused. Water aerobics, muscle strengthening and weight training are also activities that help. Other exercises like dance and aerobics, and cycling can also help control arthritis, when done in moderation.

The important part before you set out to do any exercise program is to consult your doctor. If you don’t do this, you will be running the risk of making your arthritis a lot more painful and harder to deal with, especially because of inflammation.

Health clubs are a great option, as are health products. These might seem expensive, but if you check, you might find out that your insurance company offers some kind of discount with health clubs and with health products. You can always make the best of such offers.

Moreover, there are health clubs that offer discounts to people who hold policies with certain companies. If you scout around, you will find excellent health clubs that offer great services, including personal trainers who are well-qualified and know what kind of exercises will be good for arthritis patients. You might have to pay for such services, but it will definitely be worth it.

Another option is to look into joining your local YMCA or YWCA. Oftentimes, these organizations offer water aerobics, which has shown to be effective in decreasing arthritis pain. Water aerobics is a very gentle form of exercise and can be performed by nearly everyone. It involves sitting in a shallow pool and conducting gentle resistance exercises.

Application of heat always helps, with different kinds of arthritis. Generally, proper application of heat for anywhere from five to fifteen minutes can give a lot of relief and make sure that joints remain flexible. This is especially important before exercise.

Once you have applied heat to your joints, begin with a few stretches. Once you have finished your routine, cold packs will soothe the soreness in your joints. This will also help you reduce inflammation in your joints.

Two things are very important when you start with your exercise routine – you must enjoy your routine and you must be comfortable with it. Even if you have arthritis, your exercise program should not cause you any intense pain, and you should have fun doing it.

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