Arthritis is an ailment that is a major impediment to how you work and move. With your joints becoming hard and stiff, any sort of movement becomes difficult and yet it has been suggested by every doctor and physiotherapist that the best way to counter arthritis is to constantly move around and exercise your joints.
It is recommended that you follow a moderate exercise plan to help cope with arthritis. Stronger muscles may help to decrease pain and discomfort.
Here are some exercises that help cope with arthritis:
Water Exercises: Water is one of the best ways to cope with arthritis. Inside a hot pool, your joints are relaxed and with the buoyancy of the water, it is easier for you to move around and make small movements that would have, otherwise been impossible on land. Take a dip in warm water and try and walking around and moving your arms and legs in circular motion to help ease the tension around the joints and you will feel an instant revival and upliftment in your body.
Walking: Although this might seem like a Herculean task, you should always walk to cope with arthritis. Walking increases your heart beat and gives you a cardio workout. It is a weight bearing exercise which forces your bones to take weight and exercises them so that the bone density increases. Take small steps at first and try to walk with support for 10-15 minutes, slowly increasing to get almost 20-30 minutes a day.
Tai chi: Tai Chi is a Chinese martial arts form where the practitioner moves around through slow motions to work out the body. People with arthritis can excel in this as it will not put any pressure on their joints and they can slowly up their intensity and get a good muscle building exercise to cope with the pain of arthritis.
Yoga: Yoga is a deep breathing exercise regime that not only works the body but also relieves tension off the mind and helps control your flexibility and breathing. It is one of the best natural remedies for arthritis. It is particularly useful for people with arthritis because they find it easy and can work on various yoga poses to help improve their flexibility and movements without putting any pressure on the joints.
Gym: Gym might seem like a no man’s land if you suffer from arthritis, but you need to work on your muscle as that is the best way to ease the pain in your joints and help counter the spread of arthritis in the body. There is a type of strength exercise called the isometric exercise, where you do not put stress on your joints and they do not involve any contraction of the joints. These exercises can be performed to cope with arthritis and improve your muscle strength.
Arthritis can be a difficult disease to cope up with but with dedication and by keeping your body mobile, you can beat this disease and live a normal and fulfilling life.