The Best Exercises for Arthritis Relief

Exercise is very beneficial for sufferers of arthritis. It can lead to weight loss and also strengthens muscles, which reduces stress on joints. Exercise also helps relieve stiffness in joints, increases flexibility, and keeps bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy.

Most doctors recommend physical activity for their arthritis patients, but it is always a good idea to check with your doctor first before starting any specific exercise program.

The best forms of exercise for arthritis sufferers include walking, dancing, such as low impact aerobics, yoga and swimming. Thirty minutes of exercise a day is optimum, with a warm up in the beginning, using mild stretching. Start out slowly and gently, and build up over time. You do not want to over stress your joints all at once.

Which of these forms of exercise you choose should depend on where your arthritis is located, and how bad it is. If your knees are in extreme pain, for example, low impact aerobics may not be a good choice. Swimming may make more sense in that case. A combination of forms of exercise is best.

When you exercise, be sure to breathe properly. Oxygenation is important, because it promotes a healthy heart rate, reduces fatigue and increases circulation, all of which are essential in battling arthritis.

There are three main types of exercises:

1. Range of motion exercises – These refer to the way joints move naturally on a daily basis.

2. Strengthening exercises – These include isometric exercises, or tightening the muscles without moving the joints, and isotonic, muscle movements that include moving the joints.

3. Endurance exercises – These increase stamina, and include bike riding, walking and water exercising. They will also help you lose weight, sleep better and improve your peace of mind and thought processes. The greatest benefit comes when you have 20 minutes or more of steady movement, but it is best to gradually work up to that amount.

If your joints hurt after exercising, relax and put ice on the area. Consider over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to ease the pain and pressure from swelling.

Find the best exercises for you. You could rotate the three different types of exercise above to get the benefits of all three. Try to make it interesting and fun, walking or bike riding in different areas, for example. Establish a routine that fits your life, and you will have the best chance of sticking with it. Soon you will find you are not feeling as much pain from your arthritis, and you will be enjoying life more.

Find out what else you can do to relieve the pain of arthritis.

Janna Sultry is a writer specializing in health-related topics for Good-Health-Now.com, including arthritis treatments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janna_Sultry
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Best-Exercises-for-Arthritis-Relief&id=5004362

Be Sociable, Share!

coded by nessus

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 2:02 am and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed.

Health and Fit