By avoiding certain activities, you may only be limiting your activities further and leaving your joints feeling restricted. The best way to manage arthritis is to avoid aggravating it. By avoiding exercise that aggravates your condition, you are likely to limit yourself further and make things worse in the long term. This article discusses the benefits of exercising through arthritis and why you shouldn’t avoid exercise if you have arthritis.
What is the purpose of exercise?
Physical exercise is essential for well-being. It can improve your health and improve your quality of life. Exercise can reduce your risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, musculoskeletal diseases, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease.
There are a few things to consider when deciding if it’s right for you to exercise with arthritis.
- Generally, people with arthritis should avoid heavy weight-lifting or high-impact activities like basketball.
- If your arthritis is mild, low-impact activities like walking, swimming, and low-intensity cycling may be safer.
- If you have severe arthritis, or if your arthritis is affecting your hands or feet, you may want to avoid gymnastics, dancing, or high-intensity activities.
You need to stay active
When you have arthritis, you might find that you get much less exercise than you used to. This is because your joints are often less flexible than they used to be, so you have to find other ways to remain active. For example, if you have osteoarthritis of the knee, you may find that you are less able to walk or run than you used to be.
Instead, you might be able to use a stationary bike, rowing machine, or another piece of equipment to stay active. You can also try doing yoga or Pilates to strengthen your joints. There are many other ways to stay physically active when you have arthritis.
Exercise can reduce the symptoms of arthritis
Exercise has been shown to reduce the pain caused by arthritis. This is because exercise increases feelings of well-being, so it makes you feel more relaxed. This can reduce the symptoms of arthritis such as pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
It can help you lose weight and feel better physically
Exercise can help you lose weight, both in the short and long term. Studies have shown that, for most people, regular exercise results in around a pound or two of weight loss (depending on a range of factors). This is probably because regular exercise burns calories, so you end up with a smaller stomach. This is because the stomach is filled with mostly water, so reducing its size makes you feel lighter.
It can help with depression and anxiety
Regular physical activity can help to manage symptoms of both depression and anxiety. For example, exercise has been shown to improve mood in both people with depression and those with anxiety. This is because it makes you feel better about yourself, which can reduce depression and anxiety.
It’s a good way to build confidence and social skills
Physical activity often involves socializing, which can be a great way to improve your confidence and social skills. This is because it often involves meeting new people and learning how to interact with them. Exercise can also make you feel more in control of your life, which can be helpful when you have arthritis. This can allow you to maintain your independence and manage your condition more effectively.
It helps with emotional well-being and stress management.
It is now well-established that regular physical activity can help improve emotional well-being and manage stress. There is some evidence that this is because it makes you feel better about yourself physically and emotionally, often resulting in better sleep patterns. It is also thought that exercise can reduce the stress hormone cortisol.
Regular physical activity should be part of a healthy lifestyle
Regular physical activity should be part of a healthy lifestyle. This will help you to stay physically active for longer, and it will also help to maintain a healthy weight. It is important to get enough exercise to stay physically active and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Exercises for arthritis
There are many types of exercises that can help people with arthritis. Low-impact activities like swimming, walking, and low-intensity cycling are generally safe for people who have arthritis. Other exercises to consider include low-impact stretching, Pilates, and yoga.
It’s important to find exercises that you enjoy and ones that you can tolerate. Try to find activities that suit your lifestyle and schedule. For example, if you have arthritis in your hands, it may be easier to do exercises on a soft surface like a carpet or pad. If you have arthritis in your feet, it may be easier to exercise on a softer surface like a beach, grass, or indoor gym floor.
Should you avoid exercise if you have arthritis?
No, you shouldn’t avoid exercise if you have arthritis. In fact, if you avoid them, they may only get worse. You should choose exercises that are safe and suitable for you. You should also do exercises that are enjoyable and don’t require too much effort. For example, walking or low to moderate-intensity cycling are great exercises to help manage arthritis.
Biking should be done on a cycle trainer or a smooth, flat surface like a concrete path. You should also avoid activities that require excessive effort such as weight-lifting or basketball. Avoid activities that aggravate your arthritis. Exercises that are too easy for you or that are too easy for your condition are only going to make things worse in the long term.
5 Benefits of Exercise with Arthritis
People who exercise with arthritis report improvements in their overall health and quality of life. This includes improvements in strength, flexibility, and mobility. Exercise can also reduce your risk of developing certain diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression.
A study found that those who participated in regular exercise had a 20% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who did not participate in regular exercise. There are also psychological benefits including improved mood, a positive outlook on life, and a feeling of well-being. Regular exercise can also reduce anxiety and improve your self-esteem.
Conclusion
If you have arthritis, you may want to consider starting an exercise program. There are many types of exercises that can help manage arthritis. You should choose an activity that is safe and suitable for you. Avoid activities that aggravate your condition. And lastly, don’t avoid exercise if you have arthritis. It can help you feel better and live a more active lifestyle.
If you want to do yoga instead of exercise for your arthritis pain, then check this article.