Arthritis Answers

What Is Good Arthritis Exercise?

People tend to fall into two schools of thought when it comes to exercise for arthtis sufferers. People either believe that the strain that you put on your already painful joints will be so destructive that it is best to avoid exercise altogether, or that people suffering from arthritis should partake in any and all exercise that they can. Generally, neither of these views are correct. It is important for people suffering from arthritis to take part in regular, gentle exercise for a number of reasons. Firstly, it does actually improve the strength and durability of your bones and joints making you more supple and flexible and removing a lot of the pain associated with arthritis. Secondly, exercise is a proven way to increase your mental well being and gives you a general sense of happiness and healthiness after taking part in exercise. Thirdly, your bodyweight is vitally important when you have arthritis. If you are too heavy, you are piling pressure on to already painful joints and will only cause your symptoms to get worse. It is essential that you control your bodyweight, and exercise of course will help you to control this.

Endurance exercises are great beause they not only help improve your movement, but also increase your general fitness and stamina. Running is probably not the best exercise to start out with, especially if you suffer from arthritis in your knees. Swimming and bike riding are two great exercises that most people can easily partake in. If arthritis has made your muscles or joints particularly weak, you may want to put a focus on these areas using exercise such as weights or regular visits to the gym. Finally, motion exercises such as yoga and dance are great ways to improve your general physique and range of movement without straining too much.

When starting any form of exercise, arthritis patients should always consult their doctor. There will always be particular methods of exercise which will be most beneficial to you and likewise, there will be some forms of exercise that will not be suitable for you. Your doctor will be able to advise you of this. Your doctor may also refer you to a sport's therapise or physician for further advice. As with any form of exercise, you should start out slowly and work your way into more advanced/strenuous exercises and higher reps in time. Rushing into too much early on could cause you more damage than good and will inevitably set you back rather than make you better. Stretch fully before exercising and warm your muscles and joints up as much as possible. This advise is sound to everybody who exercises but is even more suitable for people with arthritis. Pay attention to your body at all times; if certain exercises make certain parts of your body consistently painful or worse still, increase the redness/stiffness of your joints, stop exercising and consult your doctor. Warm down properly at the end of each session and if needed, apply ice packs or other treatments to allow your body to properly adjust itself.