The right kinds of exercises can help people lead productive lives even with arthritis, but the irony is that arthritis can prevent people from doing traditional kinds of exercises - going for a brisk walk, jogging or weight training is not possible for people who have to deal with inflammation in the joints, because of arthritis.
Once you are told that you have arthritis, your lifestyle has to change. The normal workout routine you used to follow must change. Your doctor will give you a treatment plan, which will include foods and exercises that will be good for you, and ones that you must avoid. Usually, you will be advised to avoid exercises that are hard on the joints. You might also have to give up some of the food you love - red meat, processed foods, additives and dairy products are known to aggravate the condition.
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.
The important part before you set out to do any exercise program is to consult your doctor. If you don't do this, you will be running the risk of making your arthritis a lot more painful and harder to deal with, especially because of inflammation.
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.
Moreover, there are health clubs that offer discounts to people who hold policies with certain companies. If you scout around, you will find excellent health clubs that offer great services, including personal trainers who are well-qualified and know what kind of exercises will be good for arthritis patients. You might have to pay for such services, but it will definitely be worth it.
If the prospect of joining a health club and getting a personal trainer does not appeal to you, water aerobics at a local institution, like the YMCA or the YWCA, is a great option for you. These exercises are not only gentle enough to make sure that your arthritis is not aggravated, but also a lot of fun to do, as a group.
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.
Once you do apply heat, a few light stretches will get you all set for your exercise routine. Once you are done with the exercise, do some light stretches again and then cold packs to your joints to get any inflammation that might be present back under control.
One of the most important things you have to keep in mind is that this work out is meant to make you feel better - it should not be too painful, and you must enjoy doing it. If you enjoy your exercise routine, whichever form of it you choose, you will be more likely to stick to it for a long time. - 15266
Once you are told that you have arthritis, your lifestyle has to change. The normal workout routine you used to follow must change. Your doctor will give you a treatment plan, which will include foods and exercises that will be good for you, and ones that you must avoid. Usually, you will be advised to avoid exercises that are hard on the joints. You might also have to give up some of the food you love - red meat, processed foods, additives and dairy products are known to aggravate the condition.
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.
The important part before you set out to do any exercise program is to consult your doctor. If you don't do this, you will be running the risk of making your arthritis a lot more painful and harder to deal with, especially because of inflammation.
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.
Moreover, there are health clubs that offer discounts to people who hold policies with certain companies. If you scout around, you will find excellent health clubs that offer great services, including personal trainers who are well-qualified and know what kind of exercises will be good for arthritis patients. You might have to pay for such services, but it will definitely be worth it.
If the prospect of joining a health club and getting a personal trainer does not appeal to you, water aerobics at a local institution, like the YMCA or the YWCA, is a great option for you. These exercises are not only gentle enough to make sure that your arthritis is not aggravated, but also a lot of fun to do, as a group.
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.
Once you do apply heat, a few light stretches will get you all set for your exercise routine. Once you are done with the exercise, do some light stretches again and then cold packs to your joints to get any inflammation that might be present back under control.
One of the most important things you have to keep in mind is that this work out is meant to make you feel better - it should not be too painful, and you must enjoy doing it. If you enjoy your exercise routine, whichever form of it you choose, you will be more likely to stick to it for a long time. - 15266
About the Author:
Gary Pearson is an accomplished author.
