How Exercise Can Help Limit The Pain Of Arthritis
The most common type of arthritis is the wear and tear of joints giving pain, heat and stiffness.
Being active can help you to manage the symptoms of arthritis. Exercise can help limit pain and maintain mobility as well as boost energy.
Many people are afraid to exercise because they believe – mistakenly – that it will cause further damage to their joints. But your body is designed to move, and not doing so is harmful to the tissues in and around the joints. So to increase the life of your joints, you should stay active.
At KCF we know that exercise is the answer to so many problems! Here are some tips to get started:
Revisit exercises and classes you've enjoyed in the past - click here for timetable. There are no strengthening, cardio or mobility exercises that are off limits, you may just need a PT to give you a stepping-stone exercise to build up slowly and increase the intensity gradually but any exercise will be helpful in the long term - book a consultation here.
Running, squats and lunges are all possible and practicing in a pool first will allow some time for your body to get used to the movements with reduced weight bearing.
Choose the right environment. Some people may like exercising with a partner for motivation and some may find this distracting. Pick your preferences but be open to trying different options. Read about our different trainers here.
Diet, sleep, limiting smoking and keeping stress as low as possible are all just as important to help manage arthritis symptoms. Here at KCF we not only lead exercises but give you the tools and education such as mindfulness and relaxation, motivational interviewing and goal setting. Kate is always on hand with nutritional tips too.
Motivation is a key issue. We often start a new type of exercise with enthusiasm only to give up after a few weeks. The important thing is to set realistic goals to do some form of exercise that you enjoy and to do it regularly. You may find your goals change as your condition changes, and this is perfectly normal.
Work on keeping your muscles strong and your joints moving. Maintain a healthy weight so your body is not too heavy for your joints to carry.
Good posture will help you carry your body weight evenly using both your arthritic and non-arthritic joints. Poor posture can cause problems with your healthy joints, as well as your digestion and breathing. I’m a qualified physio and happy to give you some pointers.
We cannot wait to mark arthritis week with you in the gym or online. Try a new class to celebrate your incredible body! See you there.
Lauren Waterworth