Arthritis Exercise for All Levels
Exercise can be very beneficial for arthritis sufferers, often relieving stiffness in joints, strengthening muscles thereby reducing stress on joints, keeping bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy, and increasing flexibility. A recommended 30-minute minimum of daily activity is the norm. Before starting any exercise program, it is vital that one speak to their doctor to ensure there are no unseen risks, however you will find that most doctors recommend exercise for their arthritis patients either on their own initiative or when asked.
The types of exercises suggested vary; however, with all types of exercise the warm-up is the starting point. Warming up is best started with applying warm compresses to the joints, followed by mild stretching. Range of motion exercises, such as dance, are a very good start, as are low-impact aerobics. These can relieve stiffness and increase flexibility. Never discount the effectiveness of walking as an exercise. Walking is a great exercise to improve the arthritic condition, and carrying weights as light as one pound and using your arms as you walk can involve the whole body. The "trick" is to make walking interesting enough as an exercise to stay motivated. Try walking in different settings, alternating walking with dance on different days, and of course including a partner can be much more interesting than going at it alone.
Using aquatics: exercising in a pool-is a great way to exercise as well. Water is an excellent aid because it provides resistance that builds muscle in the entire body while reducing shock to the joints at the same time. Additionally, because the whole body tends to become involved in aquatic exercise the added benefit of cardiovascular exercise is enjoyed. If at all possible, find a heated pool to work out in. Warm water is soothing to the joints and will cause the blood vessels to dilate, increasing circulation. With that in mind, it is often beneficial to add using a spa to your regimen, perhaps after your workout, in order to provide some soothing jets of water to your muscles and even more help with increased circulation, which is always vital when dealing with arthritis.
If you still want more variety, you may want to try yoga. Yoga is a general term for several stretching, and pose-oriented exercises originating in India, and is extremely beneficial toward achieving flexibility and reducing stress physically and mentally. There are gentle forms of yoga such as Hatha Yoga that are excellent to start with. Hatha Yoga comprises of gentle stretches and simple poses that help flexibility and balance, and are easy to learn and enjoy. Check your local activities paper or section of your local paper to see if there are any yoga classes near you.
Even when you cannot make it out to walk or to an aquatics or yoga class, there are exercises you can do daily to improve flexibility, strength and conditioning. You can flex your legs while sitting in a chair facing forward, simply by moving your leg outward while keeping your foot on the floor and holding it there for a few seconds, then retracting it until your foot is behind you, then alternating to the other leg. Interlocking your fingers and slowly flexing your wrists to the left and the right for a few minutes a day can help tremendously to increase flexibility and reduce pain in the wrist area.
For your upper back, you can stand upright in front of a table, then lean over and place your hands on the table and tuck your chin back toward your collarbone. Once positioned as such, lift your upper back upward and simultaneously take a deep breath. Hold that position for 5-10 seconds and then relax while exhaling. While doing this, lower your spine slowly as you move both shoulder blades forward as if toward each other. Repeat this exercise for 10-15 repetitions.
For the shoulders and middle back, start again from an upright position standing as straight as you can, reach back and lock the fingers of both hands together. Breathe slowly and deeply and lift upward with your shoulders while at the same time, exhaling. Be sure to keep your chest up and your chin in. Repeat this for about 10-15 sets.
For the shoulders and upper chest, choose a free corner of the room to stand in and place your hands on the opposite sides of the corner. Take a step back about 18 inches from the corner. You now should be facing the corner directly with your hands on both of the walls with your body some distance from the wall itself. Keeping your chest up after inhaling, lean in toward the corner while exhaling. Repeat this exercise for 10-15 sets.
Whatever exercise program you choose, be sure to breathe properly when exercising. Oxygenation is important to any exercise regimen as it promotes a healthy heart rate and reduces fatigue; additionally oxygenation helps circulation, which is vital to achieving the flexibility and strength that you are trying to achieve in battling arthritis. Also, listen to your body. It is natural to feel a little fatigue and soreness when starting a new exercise regimen, However if the pain of soreness persists for more than one hour, or you have a decrease in mobility that lasts longer than an hour, then the regimen should be reduced until the soreness desists. Also, look for signs of increased swelling of joints or any persistent increase of weakness; these are signs of activities that are too strenuous and a reduction in activity will be necessary. Just remember to take all new exercise regimens slowly at the start. The idea is to increase flexibility not train for the Olympics.
There are three main types of exercises to include in a basic exercise program:
Range-of-motion exercises - These lessen stiffness and help with improving flexibility. "Range of motion" refers to the area within which the joints move naturally or on a daily basis. Although these range-of-motion exercises can be performed every day, it is recommended that they be done at least every other day.
Strengthening exercises - There are two types of strengthening exercises; isometric or tightening the muscles without moving the joints, and isotonic, moving of the joints for strengthening muscle movements. It is recommended to do these sets of exercises every other day, unless you are suffering from more than mild joint pain or swelling.
Endurance exercises - The objective of these is to increase stamina. They also help with improving your inner personal / mental strength and with improving weight control and sleep. Some of the most popular endurance exercises are stationary bike riding, walking and water exercising. And unless you are suffering from more than mild joint pain or swelling, a 20- to 30-minute workout or two to three short 10-minute bouts during the day is what is recommended, an average of three times each week. Be kind to your body, and it will be kind to you.
Let's sum up exercise with a few tips for all:
- Establish your own unique, exercise program so that it meets you personal health needs, budget and environment. Make sure it is safe by checking with your own professional healthcare advisor and workout trainer. And take it slow and steady like Aesop's turtle in the race.
- Be kind to yourself. Stop if something hurts. And experiment with applying heat before exercising and warming up. Then cool off afterwards with cold packs.
-Enjoy exercising by making it a real part of your life during the week. Include range-of-motion, strengthening and endurance exercises in your routines. And vary your activities; try a new class at a health club one quarter. Next time, go elsewhere or join a naturalist group for weekly hikes in local parks. Keep an active folder with pockets of gyms and health clubs near you with their schedules and up-dated classes and coupon specials. And check newspapers, local bulletin boards, postings at the gyms and clubs, etc. for healthy activities like walk-a-thons and bike-a-thons for nonprofits and evening / weekend hikes in which you can participate. You'll meet new friends, have fun, get out more and exercise all at the same time.
- Exercise activities are available all around you, too. No need to spend time and money elsewhere. You can borrow exercise videos, cassettes, DVDs and books from public libraries. You can get active by washing windows, cleaning your house, car, pet, children's closets, your closets, anything?You can even earn money doing activities like walking and distributing flyers, local newspapers and coupons (check with companies who place these in and around your mailbox and door - -they often need help).
Arnel Ricafranca
Fitness Expert/Personal trainer
Founder of Fitness VIP
Online personal fitness trainer
http://www.fitness-vip.com
If you would like additional support and coaching along the way - I strongly suggest you take a peak at my online "member's only" site at http://www.fitnessgenerator.com/fitness-vip - as what we have for you there can definitely help you make progress fast.
Sign up for my fitness newsletter and receive my five special reports ($50 value).
SPECIAL REPORT #1:
6 Keys To Getting Maximum
Results In Minimum Time With
Your Home Exercise Equipment
SPECIAL REPORT #2:
The 8 Keys to Golf Fitness Success
SPECIAL REPORT #3:
How to Build The Perfect Athlete
For Any Sport: The 6 Secrets of
Successful Sport-Specific Conditioning
SPECIAL REPORT #4:
Solving the Supplement Mystery:
Is There A Magic Pill Out There For You?
SPECIAL REPORT #5:
16 Tips For Looking And Feeling Better
Than You Have In Years:
Get it now at http://www.fitness-vip.com
Latest News
Ask the Trainer: Add exercise to your efforts to stop smoking Sheboygan Press, WI - Not only is exercise good for you in the first place and a good distraction, it will help keep those extra pounds off. Anne Adams is a self-employed ... |
Bad, bad belly fat susceptible to exercise Detroit Free Press, United States - And this is where recent research about exercise and belly fat comes in. A study reported this fall from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in ... |
Local exercise programs anything but routine San Jose Mercury News, USA - Each exercise is scaled to each individual, so newbies, veterans and everyone in between fits into the workout scene. 20s to their mid-60s. ... |
Bomb exercise scares uninformed Catholic school Daily Camera, CO - Tuesday's drill was a training exercise in the empty school involving SWAT and bomb disposal officers. Police said they won't release details about the ... |
With the Right Motivation, That Home Gym Makes Sense New York Times, United States - Do you have exercise equipment in your house that you don't use? Join the discussion. Today, my top-of-the-line exercise machine sits idle most of the time. ... Want to Get Fit? Don't Buy Exercise Equipment... |
Diet, Exercise Could Bring Sickness During Winter cbs4denver.com, CO - It's not simply dieting that can weaken immunity; it's also jumping into exercise a little too vigorously. Instead of easing into a program, ... |
 TPMCafé | US must exercise leverage on Israel Danbury News Times, CT - We will not exercise the leverage on Israel necessary to achieve peace; we will continue to alienate Arabs in the street; we have bankrupted ourselves as an ... Video: Obama Comments on Violence in Gaza China urges Security Council to push for immediate ceasefire in Gaza Gaza Fighting Poses Significant Challenge For Obama |
 KLEW | Active shooter exercise will take place at LC Tuesday KLEW, ID - Sergeant Ted Piche said the mock exercise will resemble a situation like the one seen at Virginia Tech in 2007. Piche said it's not that a similar situation ... Live shooter drill focuses on saving lives |
FLIR Systems Announces Exercise of Option Under $13.5 Million ... CNNMoney.com - FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today that it has received notification from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) of its intent to exercise a ... |
Trainer creates cards for home exercise kit DetNews.com, MI - Box contains 150 basic exercises to tone specific body parts such as abs, thighs, back and calves. HOWELL -- Are the effects of turkey, sweet potatoes, ... |
Resources
-
Golf Fitness Book - Golf Exercise Guide - Golf Training Workouts
Golf fitness Exercise training book providing golf workouts,golf stretches,golf exercises and golf swing tips to improve golf swing.
-
The Five Tibetan Rites: Chet Day's Annotated Version of Peter Kelder's Classic Tibetan Rejuvenation
The Five Rites: Chet Day presents an Annotated Version of Peter Kelder
-
Index
Lose 10lbs in just 10 days without starving, pills or complicated Exercise routines.
-
Building Muscle - The Truth
Top muscle building program available. Learn the truth about building muscle from a muscle gain expert.
-
Pilates Exercise Book, Instructions
Pilates Book, Pilates Download, Pilates Workouts and Pilates Instruction
-
Recreating Menstruation - PMS Symptoms Can Be Eliminated!
Gives women who suffer from PMS and other menstruation problems a simple Exercise they can do that will ELIMINATE their symptoms. Described in detail in the book,
-
Creatine: A practical guide.
Explode muscle growth with smart creatine use while avoiding adverse consequences
-
Melt The Fat - An Interactive Step-by-Step Exercise, Nutrition & Health Program
Melt the Fat & Gain a Life- A Total Life Makeover In 1 Complete & Interactive Program. Personal Trainer & Nutritionist Explains It All In Total Detail. Walk Away With A Fitness Routine & Eating Plan
-
Health-E-Meals.com - Quick and Healthy Recipes, Snacks, Fitness Tips, Motivation, Links.
Healthy Solutions for Your Busy Life. Health-E-Meals.com offers a free healthy cooking newsletter as well as other practical resources for making healthy living, eating and Exercise a part of your busy life.
-
Home Gym Shopping Secrets
Home Gym Shopping Secrets