Arthritis Exercises

By Gary Pearson


The right kinds of exercises can help people lead productive lives even with arthritis, but the irony is that arthritis can prevent people from doing traditional kinds of exercises - going for a brisk walk, jogging or weight training is not possible for people who have to deal with inflammation in the joints, because of arthritis.

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.

Before embarking on any type of arthritis exercise program it's best to consult with your healthcare practitioner to be certain the form of exercise you choose will not further aggravate your arthritis symptoms.

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.

One of the best things about health clubs is that a personal trainer is one of the options open to you. Even with the discount that you get with your insurance policy, you might have to pay from your pocket for such services, but this will give you access to training programs uniquely tailored for your needs.

Another option which is rather more cost effective is to join the local YWCA or the YMCA. Water aerobics is a fairly popular activity in such institutions, and it's an activity that helps arthritis a lot. Not only is it helpful, it is also not a fatiguing activity and it is a lot of fun.

Just as warming up is important before you work out, when you have arthritis, you need to get your joints warmed up - literally. Applying a heat pack to your joints for five to maybe fifteen minutes can help you enjoy your work out more, with less discomfort.

After applying heat, you will want to perform gentle stretching exercises before and after the routine. Upon completion of the work-out, apply cold packs to sore joints to help reduce inflammation.

It's important to choose an exercise program that you enjoy and one that does not cause you intense pain. If you dislike the form of exercise or if it causes an increase in pain, chances are you will not stick with the program.

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