Living with arthritic joints can be hard. To many of those suffering from arthritis, the thought of forcing yourself to be more active can be difficult - not to mention painful. We urge you, however, to consider this: leading studies show that daily exercise not only helps relieve the symptoms associated with arthritis, but it can reduce the recurrence of symptoms in the long run when practiced regularly. When used in conjunction with other treatment methods, like cold laser therapy, daily exercise can greatly reduce the discomfort and pain associated with arthritis.
It just so happens that the pain and swelling that accompanies arthritis in our feet and ankles responds positively to daily physical activity. Similar to the concept of physical therapy, daily exercise can be therapeutic to aching and arthritic joints. It’s easy to assume that once you’re diagnosed with arthritis, your days of being active are over...this is far from the truth! You don’t need to run a triathlon to be active. This list has some helpful but low-impact types of exercise to help you reduce the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis:
Swimming- By far the easiest way to get a full body workout without full body impact. Search for community pools in your area and get to swimming!
Yoga- This activity can be adjusted to your skill level, allowing for a gentle and relaxing experience. It’s a peaceful alternative to high impact exercises and helps reduce pain while increasing flexibility.
Stationary bike- While biking outside is nice, it can be better to start stationary. You can control the difficulty, and it’s much more safe and predictable. The seated bikes allow most of your weight to be handled by your upper body.
Elliptical- The mechanics of an elliptical machine allow for a more gentle experience than a treadmill. Get all the benefits of jogging and walking without the pain and swelling!
There you have it - your quick guide to the types of exercise that can help you reduce the symptoms of arthritic pain and discomfort. Aching to learn more? Call us today at (207) 774-0028 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Michele Kurlanski at our podiatry office in Scarborough, Maine.