Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Exercises That Can Help Arthritis

By James Bartell

Its is difficult to perform certain exercises, such as walking or lifting weights, for someone with joint swelling from arthritis.

Normally, a health practitioner will provide a comprehensive arthritis treatment plan if and when you are diagnosed with arthritis. This plan includes various types of exercise as well as dietary restrictions and benefits. Foods known to increases arthritis symptoms include red meat, food additives, dairy products, and processed foods.

Some of the most popular exercises for arthritis are cycling, dance, yoga, water aerobics, tai chi, muscle strenthening, and weight training.

In order to avoid further aggravating your arthritis symptoms, speak with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine to make sure it's best for you.

Today, most health insurance companies offer discounts on health products and clubs. Therefore, be sure to check with your insurance carrier to see which benefits are offered to you.

In addition, many health clubs offer up to a 50 percent discount to certain insurance members. The majority of these clubs offer private sessions with a qualified exercise trainer. Many of these trainers are well-versed in helping clients develop an arthritis exercise program suited to their needs. Typically, the cost of a personal trainer is not covered and will be an out-of-pocket expense.

You can also check out the local YMCA or YWCA. These organizations usually offer water aerobics, wchich are gentle and great for decreasing arthritis pain. All it involves are gentle resistance exercises while sitting in a shallow pool.

No matter which arthritis exercise you choose, you should always apply heat to sore joints to help make them more flexible. The heat should be applied for typically 5 to 15 minutes at a time.

You will want to perform stretch exercises after you apply heat to your joints and before you start your exercise routine. After you complete your exercises, use cold packs to help reduce inflammation on your joints.

It's important to choose an exercise program that you enjoy and one that does not cause you intense pain. If you dislike the form of exercise or if it causes an increase in pain, chances are you will not stick with the program.

About the Author:

No comments: