| Many of us are inclined to decrease our activities | | | | joints. Walking strengthens your cardiovascular |
| when experiencing inflammation and pain from | | | | system and tones your body. It improves the |
| arthritis. However, osteoarthritis sufferers who | | | | flexibility in your hips and lower limbs, improves |
| reduce exercise drastically are likely to experience | | | | your control of balance while decreasing your |
| a more rapid progress of symptoms, with | | | | body fat, reducing strain on your knees. |
| muscles losing strength, tone and flexibility, | | | | Bicycling puts less strain on your joints and may |
| motions in the joints becoming limited, bones | | | | therefore be more suitable for people with more |
| becoming thin and cartilage becoming thin and | | | | severe forms of osteoarthritis of the hips, knees |
| softening. | | | | and feet. The rotational movement of bicycling is |
| While it is likely that you will have to adjust your | | | | especially beneficial to the cartilage and it is a |
| activities to suit the need of your joints, there are | | | | great conditioning exercise, building bone strength |
| many exercises still available to suit you and your | | | | and density. |
| specific joint problems. It is now widely accepted | | | | Water exercises are very popular as they do not |
| that any type of movement is an important part | | | | place any stress and strain on your joints and are |
| of your treatment for osteoarthritis as it fights | | | | sometimes the only suitable exercises that do not |
| the debilitating effects of the disease in three | | | | cause pain. You do not have to be a great |
| major ways: | | | | swimmer as you can use a flotation device and |
| Exercise encourages the flow of synovial fluid | | | | remain in the shallow end of the pool. It is possible |
| into and out of the cartilage | | | | for you to do stretching, strengthening and |
| Exercise strengthens the supporting | | | | aerobics in the water. |
| structures (muscles, tendons, ligaments) and | | | | Stretching is a really great exercise for |
| increases the range of motion, shock absorption | | | | osteoarthritis but it is very important to stretch |
| and flexibility of the joints | | | | correctly or you can do a lot of damage. If your |
| Exercise allows better movement as it gives | | | | joints are stiff you should begin by working with a |
| you better biomechanics (coordination and timing | | | | physical therapist or a join a class for arthritis |
| of movements) | | | | sufferers. Yoga is a wonderful exercise for |
| Developing an Exercise Program to Suit Your | | | | stretching, strengthening and toning your body |
| Health | | | | and most postures are easy on the joints with |
| As you may already have osteoarthritis and have | | | | certain postures even helping to improve your |
| damaged one or more joints, thus straining the | | | | biomechanics. |
| supporting structures and muscle balance, it is | | | | Pilates is another great form of exercise for |
| important to develop a program that is suited to | | | | anyone with osteoarthritis, as it can be geared |
| your level of fitness and health. This can be done | | | | towards people with joint restrictions, improving |
| with the support of a physician, physical therapist | | | | strength, flexibility and core stability. T'ai Chi Chuan |
| or exercise physiologist. Your program should be | | | | gently exercises muscles all over your body, with |
| designed to improve your strength, aerobic | | | | movements that are slow, circular and continuous. |
| capacity, flexibility and balance. It is always | | | | It places no strain on any part of your body or |
| important to remember that you should never | | | | joints and improves the range of motion in your |
| experience joint pain when exercising and that | | | | joints. |
| you should not overdo by pushing yourself, but | | | | Beginning a new exercise program may create a |
| rather aim at doing a little more over time, giving | | | | little soreness or stiffness in your body but once |
| your body a chance to adapt thus developing | | | | the exercises are done properly your body will |
| your strength and health. | | | | adapt to the new movements and demands. |
| Suitable Exercises for Sufferers of Osteoarthritis | | | | Exercising with a friend, family member or even |
| Walking at a brisk pace is the easiest and simplest | | | | joining a class is a great motivator and remember |
| exercise, as it is low-impact and easy on your | | | | that exercising regularly ensures good joint health. |