Here at Pain and Performance Clinic, we know how hard it can be living with osteoarthritis even the simplest of tasks can be overwhelming and you’re scared of losing your independence or allowing frailty to take over.
You might even question whether exercise with osteoarthritis is a viable option for dealing with your chronic joint issues if you’re already in such pain and you’ve been told by previous healthcare professionals that you should rest.
The good news is that all evidence of osteoarthritis improvement points to gentle exercise that can help alleviate the stiffness of your joints while also strengthening the muscles around them to ensure better stability.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss why exercise with osteoarthritis makes sense and outline simple yet effective activities to get started on a path of pain relief and improved strength today.
Why Should You Exercise With Osteoarthritis?
As an expert in the field of Osteoarthritis, I strongly recommend exercise as an effective way to alleviate its symptoms. The misconception that exercise exacerbates joint pain for Osteoarthritis patients is quickly dispelled when you understand the benefits.
Moderate physical activity reduces inflammation, which is a leading cause of Osteoarthritis. An appropriately designed exercise program will improve your range of motion, build strength, reduce stiffness, and improve your overall joint functionality.
Studies show that individuals who exercise regularly with Osteoarthritis have better pain management and experience improved mental health.
So, whether it’s low-impact aerobics or strength training, make exercise a part of your daily routine and reap the benefits.
Ideal Exercises To Do With Osteoarthritis
Strength Training
Strength and resistance training can be beneficial for people with an osteoarthritis diagnosis in order to strengthen the muscles around their joints.
Here at the Pain and Performance Clinic, we have a strength training studio where we teach people to build up their strength in a safe and controlled way so that our patients can get back to their favourite activities like playing with the grandchildren or getting out in the garden.
Walking
Low-impact exercises like walking are critical to maintaining joint health and increasing your range of movement when suffering from osteoarthritis so you can move freely and return to activities you couldn’t do before such as hiking or jogging.
Walking strengthens the muscles surrounding the joints, maintains flexibility, and can even help with weight management so you can reduce the stress on your joints.
Cycling
Cycling is an ideal way to exercise with osteoarthritis because it puts minimal stress on your joints allowing you to do physical activity without exacerbating your symptoms.
It’s also a popular form of exercise for cardiovascular fitness which promotes your overall health and can help you to feel fitter and experience less fatigue.
Swimming
Engaging in swimming on a regular basis can improve your strength and flexibility while also minimising the impact on your joints and lessening your symptoms.
Swimming is also a great way to reduce stiffness and impact on your joints as the water gives you a weightless feel.
Want Expert Help To Manage Your Osteoarthritis?
Do you feel like you’ve tried everything to improve your osteoarthritis but nothing seems to be helping your pain and stiffness?
It could be time to consider physiotherapy as a treatment option to help you overcome some of your pain and look forward to a future of independence!
Right now, we’re offering you the chance to be a part of our 3-month ‘Be Active With Arthritis’ program where we cover 3 key areas for managing your osteoarthritis, advice, and education, exercise in both resistance, cardio, and weight loss where appropriate.
If you’re looking for some extra support to proactively manage your condition and improve your quality of life, this is an amazing program for you!
If you want to know more about our 3-month ‘Be Active With Arthritis’ program, we offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation where you can ask any questions you may have and find out more information.
Arrange your free telephone consultation by calling us at 086 787 6358.
Other Free Resources For Osteoarthritis
We have a FREE ‘The Osteoarthritis Guidebook’ – Call us at 086 787 6358 to get yourself a copy of our free ebook and it will help you to get clarity on the best evidence approach to managing your diagnosis naturally.
Read Our Blog – Do You Suffer From Arthritis
Read Our Blog – Top 5 Benefits Of Exercise As You Get Older
On Social Media? Follow Us On – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
