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Exercising and Arthritis - get moving for pain relief

July 4th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Arthritis can exact a terrible toll over the years; you can become stiffer and less mobile, finding it hard to do the simplest tasks. This makes exercise essential. By exercising, not only will you build your muscles so that there’s less pressure on your joints, but you will also maintain mobility.

Typically, when you are diagnosed with arthritis your healthcare practitioner will provide you with a comprehensive arthritis treatment plan that includes various types of arthritis exercises. This plan will also include any dietary restrictions and inform you of the various types of food known to reduce arthritis pain. Generally, this arthritis treatment plan will also include a list of foods known to aggravate arthritis symptoms such as red meat, dairy products, food additives, and processed foods.

Some of the most popular arthritis exercises include yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, weight training and muscle strengthening, range-of-motion exercises such as dance, and aerobic and endurance exercises such as cycling.

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.

Nowadays, most of the major insurance companies provide their members with discounts to health clubs. Some even offer discounts on health products such as exercise videos and dietary supplements. Oftentimes policyholders are not aware of these discounts, so be certain to check with your insurance carrier to see if they offer these types of discounts.

In addition, many health clubs offer up to a 50 percent discount to certain insurance members. The majority of these clubs offer private sessions with a qualified exercise trainer. Many of these trainers are well-versed in helping clients develop an arthritis exercise program suited to their needs. Typically, the cost of a personal trainer is not covered and will be an out-of-pocket expense.

Another option is to look into joining your local YMCA or YWCA. Oftentimes, these organizations offer water aerobics, which has shown to be effective in decreasing arthritis pain. Water aerobics is a very gentle form of exercise and can be performed by nearly everyone. It involves sitting in a shallow pool and conducting gentle resistance exercises.

Regardless of the type of arthritis exercise program you choose, it’s important to apply heat to sore joints to help warm them up and allow them to become more flexible prior to exercise. Heat is typically applied for 5 to 15 minutes.

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.

Understanding arthritis

June 17th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

When you think of the term arthritis you automatically think of pain. Pain is actually the first sign that something is wrong. Usually arthritis is something that is associated with getting older but that is not always the case. Even though it is the number one cause of disability in people age 55 and older, there are many cases found in much younger people, some as young as their teens.

If you look up the definition of arthritis you will find it to be inflammation of the joints. Joints are made to move and bend but they have fluid which surrounds the joint to prevent the bones from rubbing together with movement. The problem begins when this fluid becomes displaced or damaged and allows the bones in the joint to rub against each other. This causes pain, swelling, and can even cause permanent joint damage.

There are many reasons why joints become damaged. Probably one of the top factors is being overweight. Carrying too much body fat can cause extreme damage to the joints of the knees. The added weight puts pressure on the joint and the fluid is pushed out to the side which allows the bones to touch. Over time this can cause ligament tearing and joint damage. In many cases surgery is necessary, and with time, a knee replacement may become a necessity.

Preventing arthritis

Not everybody will be able to prevent the onset of arthritis but for most people there are steps you can take to prevent or prolong the onset. Eating a healthy diet has a number of benefits to good health. Not only does this help keep off excess weight, it also helps decrease the amount of fat in the blood which causes blocked arteries. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for your body.

Another arthritis deterrent is regular exercise. A well maintained exercise program increases flexibility in your joints and provides strength to your muscles and bones. Regular exercise is also another way to help maintain a healthy weight. People who already have arthritis can help their symptoms by staying active. Arthritis tends to make joints stiff and painful and often the pain prevents that individual from participating in the activities that cause pain. Keeping on track with a moderate exercise program can help stiff joints become more pliable, therefore causing less pain.

To prevent arthritis you also need to protect your joints at all times. When lifting something heavy learn the proper technique so you can avoid undue joint stress. If an object is too heavy, don’t try to be a hero, ask for help. Often it only takes one incident to cause joint damage which could cause you pain for the rest of your life.

Yoga For Arthritis: Yoga Contributes To Pain Relief As It Builds Your Confidence

May 28th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

When you suffer from arthritis you get used to living with chronic pain, and pain relief usually comes in the form of a pill, rather than gentle exercise. But studies have shown that not only can yoga contribute to arthritis pain relief, but it provides other benefits too.

Yoga Helps To Make You Strong, Flexible And Confident, Even Though You Have Arthritis

People with arthritis tend to cut down on their activities which leads to even more joint stiffening, and more pain. Undertaking some gentle yoga exercises not only improves your circulation and strengthens your bones and muscles, the exercises can also give you the confidence to live your life in spite of your arthritis.

You don’t need to bend yourself into a pretzel to do some yoga to help your arthritis. Breathing and self-awareness is at the core of yoga, so even standing up and breathing is a yoga exercise called Mountain Pose. This pose, just standing up and bringing your body into alignment as much as you can for a few moments, will help your posture, which translates into better balance in your daily activities.

Other yoga exercises are modified for people who have arthritis, with chairs, bolsters and other props. You still get most of the benefits of the full pose, and over time, you may even find that you no longer need the props.

Yoga Studio Or Self-Study?

If you have a yoga studio in your location, the best way to get started with yoga exercises for your arthritis is by taking some classes. Most studios have classes for people with arthritis, and if they don’t the instructors will make sure that you’re comfortable with the right props during a class, and that you exercise at your own pace.

If you’re not near a studio, or if you find it hard to travel, you can learn gentle yoga exercises for arthritis from DVDs, in which the models performing the exercises have arthritis - so you can see what’s possible for you.

Try yoga for your arthritis. Not only will yoga contribute to pain relief, but you’ll be much healthier, and much happier and more confident.

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