Arthritis Exercises

Yes, You Can Exercise With Arthritis

When a person is diagnosed with arthritis, exercise is usually the last thing on their mind. It may be difficult to walk through the grocery store, write a letter or stand on your feet, let alone think about arthritis exercises.  Many people assume that all exercise should be avoided.  However, this is not true.  In fact, arthritis exercises are encouraged for many forms of arthritis.

Arthritis exercises can help to improve your condition if you only have mild joint damage. Stretching and strengthening muscles should be the goal of your arthritis exercises, and you should avoid any exercise which is high impact. Before you begin any arthritis exercises you should discuss them with your doctor to determine what is best for you.

Exercise should benefit you, not make your arthritis worse.  If you have arthritis, you should avoid jogging, playing tennis and other forms of exercise which put sudden pressure on your joints.  These activities will only cause you pain and they will most likely cause swelling and inflammation. 

If you have severe joint damage, you should probably avoid any form of exercise which adds stress to your joints.  Walking can be beneficial as long as it doesn't increase your pain.  It's also important to wear the proper shoes and walk at a comfortable pace.  Swimming is also great for people with arthritis as the weightlessness of the water does not stress the joints.  Swimming also gives you a good cardiovascular workout.

To help alleviate the pain and inflammation from arthritis exercises it is recommended that you apply heat before and ice packs after exercising.

Your doctor may suggest physical therapy if you are unable to perform arthritis exercises.  Physical therapy usually brings some relief to arthritis pain and inflammation.  You will also learn about specific arthritis exercises that won't stress your joints.
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Staying physically active is important to your overall health.  Although, you should always take your arthritis condition into perspective and never stress your joints.  Your arthritis symptoms may come and go.  If you have been having a relatively pain free episode, this does not mean you should do high impact activities.  It is also very important that you stick with the arthritis exercises that you and your doctor agreed upon.