Home Blog

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of your joints. There is no cure found for the disease yet. Why t he cartilage starts to disintegrates is not known. But it has been observed that over weight people are easy candidates for osteoarthritis. If the weight is reduced there is significant change in the pain of the joints and the progress of the disease.

People who suffer from this condition have to start osteoarthritis exercise. Often it is a difficult task. They are over weight and the weight bearing points such as knees and hip, spine ache. If the joint pain is accompanied by swelling then the effort to do any kind of exercise is that much less. But osteoarthritis exercise has its own benefits. The person who is doing osteoarthritis exercise has to keep some point in the mind. Some precautionary measures should be taken such as,

• Always keep in mind that osteoarthritis exercise reduces your joint pain. Reduced pain means greater ability to conduct your daily life with ease.
• After exercise the joint may pain more. You have to remember to take help of cold and hot therapy to relieve pain before you start your work out.
• You have to pay heed to your body. If you feel unusual pain then you should talk to your health instructor. It may be a sign of injury.
• You should never over exert yourself and take breaks whenever you feel tired. If the joints are swelling after the exercise you should rest them.
• If after resting the pain does not go away then try and take help of assistive devices such as braces or splinters. That will help protect your joints while exercising.
• If you notice swelling and pain in the joints after you finish your exercise apply some ice on the joints. It helps reduce the swelling and pain of the joints.
• Always talk to your doctor before you start your exercise regime.
• Person with osteoarthritis has to do aerobic exercise that will help build cardiovascular muscles. Swimming is the best exercise as it does not put much pressure on the joints.
• Weight lifting exercise helps to strengthen the muscles and flexibility exercises help the joints.
• What kind of osteoarthritis exercise one can do depends on where the osteoarthritis has struck. If ones hands are affected then the person can not do any exercise that requires a tight grip such as cycling. If the pain does not go away 2 hours after you finish your exercise, indicates that may be you are over doing it. So find your tolerance limit and work out within that limit.