Is Exercise Can Beat Arthritis?, Latest Research News
While it seems contradictory to move around more when you’re in pain, this is one of the best ways to free your body from pain.
When you try to stay still during a bout of arthritis pain, your body can undergo a few physical changes which affect your experience of pain.
Your blood doesn’t circulate as much
You need your blood to circulate in order to bring warmth into the various parts of your body where you want to be able to move freely. When the blood isn’t moving, you can feel cold and even stiffer than you actually are.
Your muscles stiffen
If you choose to stay still as you are aching, you will begin to notice you aren’t able to move around as well as you once did. Your muscles tighten up and you might feel pain in a sharper way than you have in the past.
Your muscles weaken
When you make it a habit to sit around when you are suffering from arthritis pain, you will begin to lose muscle mass. This will lead to even more muscle weakness, which then perpetuates the cycle of pain, weakness, and stiffness. You need to stay strong in order to keep your body well supported.
You aren’t distracted
If you’re simply just sitting around, trying not to move, you will begin to focus on your pain and how it affects your life in a negative way. By moving around, you will allow yourself to be distracted from your pain, while also allowing yourself to be in motion, which has its own positive benefits.
No matter what kind of arthritis pain you have, there are exercises you can do in order to create a healthier body and a healthier experience of pain.
Some of the most popular exercises among arthritis sufferers include:
Water aerobics and swimming
Walking
Biking
Yoga and Tai Chi
Weight training
Water aerobics and swimming are some of the best exercises for arthritis sufferers because not only are you going to be moving in warm, relaxing water, but the motions are also fluid and controlled, allowing you to move at your own pace. The water helps to reduce the impact on your joints, while also strengthening them and increasing your overall flexibility.
Walking, if your balance isn’t compromised, is another way to keep in shape as you are dealing with arthritis pain. Like swimming, this helps your larger joints in your hips and knees, and walking is simple to do just about anywhere.
You might simply want to spend time walking around the grocery store in your neighborhood or perhaps head to the local shopping mall to browse the stores to get moving more.
Biking is another low impact way to get more exercise in your life. By focusing on moving your joints instead of bouncing up and down on the ground, you can help improve flexibility and strength, even if you’re using a stationary bike and not heading out on the open road.
Tai Chi and Yoga are other relaxing ways to get more activity while also helping to improve your arthritis pain. By slowly moving your body into certain positions, you can allow your joints to release tension as well as help yourself to become more balanced and coordinated as you move during the rest of your day.
Ideally, you also want to include some sort of weight training exercise into your life as well. This will help to strengthen your muscles and make you feel steadier and sturdier as you perform everyday tasks. The stronger your muscles are, the more easily they can support your weaker muscles, helping to offset pain and tightness.
Your body was designed to be active, even when it is in pain. Of course, if you feel any shooting pains as you move, you will want to stop your activity and speak with your doctor.
If you haven’t been able to exercise for a while, it’s time to check with your doctor as well to see what exercises they might recommend for you.
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