| Those who suffer from arthritis need different | | | | exercise and you should have no trouble find |
| forms of exercise for arthritis pain. | | | | classes. Most every pool has a class from your |
| If you, or someone close to you, have likely | | | | community pools to the local health club. |
| heard from doctors and other arthritic suffers | | | | Most find that these exercises are fun and |
| about the importance of getting regular exercise. | | | | relatively easy, even for non-swimmers. The pool |
| Regular exercise for arthritis pain will keep your | | | | should be warm and comfortable. Common types |
| joints loose and limber, improve muscle strength | | | | of water exercises include under water stretching |
| and improve bone health. | | | | and simply movement through water. Water |
| However, getting the right amount of exercise | | | | exercises help to exercise the muscles and joints |
| and doing the right kind of exercises not always | | | | without putting them under excessive strength. |
| easy. | | | | A study published by the American College of |
| One of the greatest challenges that many arthritis | | | | Sports Medicine found that elderly patients who |
| patients face is a lack of proper exercise | | | | practiced water exercises on a regular basis |
| programs. Recent surveys indicate that many | | | | experienced considerable relief from their |
| arthritis patients feel there is a lack of exercise | | | | symptoms and better overall health. |
| programs that specifically address the special | | | | In the study, two groups of elderly women ages |
| challenges faced by their condition. | | | | to 60 - 75 were studied to gauge the effects of |
| Fortunately, health professionals are becoming | | | | water exercises on elderly arthritis patients. Half |
| more sensitive to the particular challenges faced | | | | of the women participated in water exercises for |
| by arthritis sufferers and have some tips to help: | | | | twelve weeks, while the other group of women |
| * Your first step is to warm your body up. This | | | | did not participate. The women who did participate |
| means that you should be stretching, touching | | | | in the water exercises reported several benefits. |
| your toes, or trying to, some knee bends, etc, or | | | | These include a feeling of greater flexibility and |
| just getting started very slowly. This 'warm up' | | | | range of motion, better oxygen intake, more |
| shoul be five -ten minutes before starting the | | | | muscle strength, greater agility, and weight loss.o |
| main part of your exercise or routine. | | | | Yoga is an effective yet gentle enough exercise |
| Warming up will give the entire body, especially | | | | that can keep your body flexible while not |
| yourjoints and muscles, the time they need to | | | | overexerting your joints and muscles. Beside the |
| get ready for the more active exercise to you | | | | physical benefits (of which there are many), yoga |
| have planned. | | | | can provide relaxation and anxiety-reducing |
| * Now that you're warmed up you can start the | | | | effects that can linger long after a session on the |
| exercises. But the question is what form.o How | | | | mat. Try yoga when your feeling stressed, tired, |
| about walking? Try to find a quiet, safe area you | | | | or stiff. |
| can walk. Pair up with a walking or hiking buddy to | | | | How you move your body, and how you choose |
| keep you motivated, or take the dog for a walk.o | | | | to move it has a tremendous effect on your |
| Another outdoor exercise is gardening. Gardening | | | | health and overall sense of well-being. Gentle yet |
| and yard work not only helps to beautify your | | | | effective exercises such as walking, gardening, |
| environment, but can help you get the right | | | | water exercises, bicycling, and yoga can restore |
| amount of exercise.o A lot of arthritics find relief | | | | your body's sense of health, vigor, and well being. |
| from arthritis pain and discomfort through water | | | | |