Exercise And Arthritis Do Go Hand And Hand

This month is National Arthritis Month, plus the other health observances that I have discussed in earlier newsletters this month. It used to be thought that exercise would just worsen arthritis so doctors told their patients not to exercise. But now there is new research that indicates you would be crazy not to exercise if you have arthritis.

To begin with, exercise builds strong muscles around the joints, increases the flexibility, and helps reduce joint pain and stiffness. Besides promoting overall health and fitness, it helps reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis.

So what are some things that you want to do?

The first thing before doing any exercise program is to have a good warm-up. You might even want to have a longer warm-up than your normal individual. This is to make sure you have the blood flowing through the joints as good as can be and get the muscles extra warm. The more blood flowing through these areas the easier it will be for you to move. Your warm-up should consist of something low impact: brisk walking while pumping your arms, stationary bike, or an elliptical which is designed to take stress off your joints.

If you have extreme pain, you might want to start with some water exercises. Water takes all the pressure off your joints plus there are pieces of equipment you can use to get a good total body equipment.

If you desire to use weights, you can use them and get a good workout, but you have to be smart. Don't do maximum lifts. You want to have a moderate weight, go for a higher rep range, and use strict form. There really is no limit to what you can or can't do. It is all based on your pain threshold and what exercises aggravate your arthritis. If there is no pain or it is not going above normal pain levels then you are probably alright.

Stretching is very important. The more flexible you are, the better your range of motion is for your joints. This means you can put your body in proper positions and not put extra pressure on your joints due to tightness.

Just because you have arthritis doesn't mean you have to give up your health entirely. There are great ways to keep you in shape and keep your arthritis under control. All it takes is a little work on your part and a little know-how given by me.