Ease Joint Pain With Exercise
There are ways to reduce your arthritis and joint pain. It starts with exercise.
Arthritis can turn everyday activities — like grocery shopping or even walking to the bathroom — into painful challenges.
However, regular mild to moderate exercise, coupled with physical therapy if prescribed, can keep you active, reduce joint pain and restore flexibility.
Exercise strengthens the muscles that support weight-bearing joints. This protects joints so they can work more efficiently and with less pain. And, if you're considering joint replacement surgery, stronger muscles may relieve the pain enough that you can postpone surgery. If you do have the surgery, recovery is frequently faster when you're in better condition.
Regular exercise is also important to keep your heart healthy. The heart is a muscular organ and, like any muscle, it gets stronger the more it is used. Raising your heart rate during exercise means the heart doesn't have to pump as hard the rest of the day. Exercise can also lower your blood pressure.
Try these Exercises for Joint Pain:
- Aqua Therapy: Water supports the joints, yet provides plenty of resistance to build muscle strength. Swimming is also great exercise for your heart.
- Riding a bike: Grab a helmet and go! Bike riding keeps the heart rate at a steady, even pace.
- Yoga: Slow, steady movements help reduce the tenderness and swelling associated with arthritis.
- Walking: It's the simplest thing you can do to increase heart health while also protecting your joints.
Before leaping into any activity, step one is a medical evaluation. If you've been inactive for a while, you may be referred for formal physical therapy to learn how to exercise safely and effectively before you take off on your own.
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Our dedicated musculoskeletal team is here for you at all stages of life, with the most advanced treatments and therapies available in the area. From arthritis and osteoporosis to trauma care, joint replacement and more, you can be sure that our providers are highly experienced in their chosen specialty to provide you with the best treatment available.
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