How to Reduce the Effects of Arthritis and Stay Fit Too?

Some methods to relieve pain

There are some methods for pain relief for short periods of time to make it easier for those who have arthritis to exercise. Consult your doctor or physical therapist to choose the method that best suits you. A fifteen to twenty minutes bath or a shower, or hot packs or mild heat supplied by warm towels can relieve the joint pain symptoms.

Other methods are, using short waves, microwaves and ultra sound to supply deep heat to non-inflamed joint areas. People with acute inflammation should avoid deep heat.

Persons with acutely inflamed joints can use cold supplied by a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. People with Raynaud's phenomenon should not use this cold method.

Hydrotherapy is another way to decrease paid and stiffness in the joints. Exercising in a pool is easy as considerable weight is taken off the painful joints by the water.

Mobilisation therapies include traction (gentle and steady pulling), massage and manipulation (using the hands to restore normal movement to stiff joints). Use all these pain relieving methods unders the supervision of trained professionals. You can get some relief from paid and increase in joint motion.

• Fearing more pain the arthritis patients totally avoid doing exercise. This will lead to more stiffness, reduced strength. Ultimately it will affect cardiovascular fitness. Inactivity due to arthritis wil further weaken the body. Arthritis people can do exercise. Consulting your doctor to get the specific exercise recommendations.

• Stretching exercises are best suited to preserve a range of motion and flexibility around each joint. Those with inflamed joints can do stretching exercise with the help of a physiotherapist.

• To build bone strength strength training exercises with light weights is advisable. Isometric strength exercises are used to strengthen joints. The caution is, you can do these exercises only when the pain and the joint inflammation are under control.

• You can do low impact cardiovascular exercises like swimming, cycling and walking to improve fitness. Even aerobic exercise are safe and effective when the joint inflammation is not acute.

• Recreational activities can improve the fitness and the state of mind. You can play recreational sports like golf and do gardening.

• Avoid quick and sudden intensity. Begin your exercise slowly and make progress slowly. Exercise intensity, movements and duration require gradual progression.

• Affected joints should not be put through rapid or repetitive movements. Arthritis patients should take care of joint protection. They should avoid rapid repetition of movements.

• Do physical activities that suit your needs. The pain, stiffness, swelling, bone changes or fibrosis make the joints unstable and the range of motions are restricted. This increases the risk of getting injury. While doing exercise suitable measures should be taken care of to protect the joints.

If you have arthritis, it doesn't mean that you need not indulge in any activity. Remaining inactive fearing more pain at the joints will actually aggravate the stiffness in the joints. Over a period of time the inactivity will weaken the body. In the end it will accelerate the de-conditioning of the body. Remaining inactive is not the answer to your arthritis problem. Just start doing the mild exercises to lessen the pain and inflammation of the joints. Consult your doctor to choose the right exercises, depending on your condition. Do the modified exercises suiting your needs to reduce the effects of arthritis and to stay healthy and fit.