Exercise for Arthritis

I use exercise for arthritis to improve the joint pain that popped up a month after chemo several years ago. It was not a slow progression.

I began to notice stiffness in my fingers, wrists, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles. Moving in any way, shape or form became painful. Not moving much during chemo and radiation, continuing the same path was the only solution.

Or so I thought.

Rainy days kept me strapped to my bed. The only improvement was a hot shower in the morning. It took some serious mental strength to walk from my bed into the shower.

After six months of shuffling to the shower and doing some light chores, I would end up back in bed, exhausted. This meant weight gain. Fifty pounds worth.

I decided to look for a solution. Pain medications were out of the question. Their side effect could cause the same cancer I had chemotherapy for. Not a good idea.

Benefits of Exercise for Arthritis
The easiest path to relief is movement. One that increases flexibility and strength. Most exercise workouts are geared toward young, healthy, flexible people. That was too advanced for me. I began with light stretches in the morning with yoga videos.

Flexibility improved as did my stamina and muscle tone. By deciding to exercise for arthritis my joints improved. Slow soothing stretches opened the door to strengthening of my joints.

I did not stop there. Diet was next on the list. I began enjoying lean meats, plenty of vegetables and fruit. The more I stayed away from fatty, fried, processed foods and continued to exercise for arthritis, the better I felt. Pounds started floating off and the pressure on my joints diminished more and more each day.

***Always, consult a physician before starting any exercise program.

If you do not exercise regularly, start slow. Walk around the block or take an an easy, beginner's yoga class. Or download a video. Stretching is the a great way to get moving. Listen to your body. It will let you know how far to stretch and how long to hold it for. Again, always consult your doctor first. Especially if you have a heart condition or respiratory problems.

Benefits of Exercise for Arthritis
Improved joint function and a better quality of life is what I discovered. Exercising regularly also enhanced my memory.

If you are in pain, you may be reluctant to start an exercise program. But it is essential if you want to feel better. The less you move, the stiffer your joints get. And the more pain you will be in.

Water Walking
A pain-free way to start seeing the benefits of exercise for arthritis is to head for the pool or beach. It is a fun and simple way to use exercise for arthritis. And one of the best health tips for seniors or any age. Water walking is a great workout and easy on the joints. As well as being a fantastic way to avoid the heat in the summer.

Improving Flexibiity
The goal is to have a regular exercise program. This is one of the best ways of dealing with arthritis. Exercising will improve your flexibility and thereby improve joint health. Start slow. Ten to twenty minutes every other day. Increase the time and intensity after a few weeks.

Make the effort to move around. Respect your limitations but start moving. Park three spaces farther out and walk a bit more to the store. Walk whenever you can instead of driving. Become less sedentary by building on what you are doing. Soon you will be able to use the stairs instead of an elevator. And your energy level will go through the roof.

Exercise with a Friend
Get a buddy to walk with. Go outside on balmy days. Or head for the coolness of the malls to avoid the heat. You will more likely participate in a regular exercise program when you exercise with a friend. Especially on those days you are feeling lazy. That buddy will help motivate you.

Menopause and Exercise
Yes, the dreaded "Pause". You can minimize most of the side effects by moving your body. Chemotherapy forced me into an early menopause.

Regular exercise managed hot flashes by increasing blood flow and reducing stress. Just 30 minutes a day helped decrease sleeping problems and relaxed muscles. After three months of exercise, I was feeling better than I had in years. Even before chemo.

Alternative Remedies for Arthritis

Yoga and Arthritis
You don't have to twist yourself into a pretzel to get the benefits. A regular program of gentle yoga for arthritis will increase strength, flexibility and energy. Body aches and pain will decrease. The more you do it, the better you feel. Yoga is by far one of the top exercises you can do for your joints.

Diet and Arthritis
Know the importance of diet and arthritis and eating the proper foods. This will help detoxify your body and keep it running smoothly. Chomp on yellow fruits and vegetables to aid your immune system in the reduction of pain.

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Using the benefits of exercise for arthritis diminished my joint pain and accompanying pressure. And I lost weight, which improved my arthritis tremendously.

If you are serious about having a better quality of life, start exercising those joints. Before long you will be doing things you never thought possible.

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