Monday, February 25, 2013

Top 5 Exercise Tips For Rheumatoid Arthritis


Let's admit it! Even if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis or not, exercising is one of those hardly liked activities for many of us unless we become addicted to it and have plenty of time to spare at a gym. Ordinary people with busy lifestyles tend to come up with a million excuses not to exercise as opposed to the healthy requirement of needing regular exercise.

The biggest excuse for such ordinary people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is to think that exercises are not a healthy option for their joints. If you are one such person, making the same excuse; you are not to be blamed as it is quite reasonable to fear about your joints. But the truth of the matter is, regular exercise is a dire need, even for those who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. However, not every type of exercise will save your day! So let's explore the top 10 exercise tips that will make you fit without causing further damage to your body:

Tip 1: Stretching is the foremost safest type of exercise for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Starting your day off with stretching and progressing on to other types of physical exercises will boost your physical energy in a systematic way. Furthermore, stretching allows you to prepare your body for other types of exercises that will follow.

Tip 2: Similarly, Yoga has been recommended for a series of chronic illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis. Yoga helps you improve in posture, introduces proper breathing techniques and allows flexibility. However, it is recommended to follow through a physician's advice on what type of yoga that you should practice as some postures may not support your current condition.

Tip 3: Tai Chi is one of the most effective alternative means of exercising recommended by the Arthritis Foundation that helps you improve mobility, relaxation and overall quality of life. This ancient methodology of using slow movements coupled up with mental concentration and breathing techniques are known to be very effective in relieving stiffness in arthritis sufferers.

Tip 4: Aerobics, commonly known as an aggressive method of exercise has now been formulated in to low impact movements to facilitate people suffering from arthritis. These movements put a very low impact on the joints and muscles therefore; people with rheumatoid arthritis can gain just the right amount of exercises needed. Low impact aerobics include riding on stationary bicycles, slow motion aerobic dances, water exercises and some walking.

Tip 5: Not quite so surprisingly, swimming is also good for rheumatoid arthritis, as it is for many other chronic conditions. In fact, swimming is one of the most effective means of exercise that you can practice because water supports your body while swimming giving away the lowest possible impact to muscles and joints.

Additionally to the top five tips presented herewith, stretching exercises are also recommended to stay healthy with rheumatoid arthritis. However, the type of stretching and the intensity up to which you exercise should be pre-agreed with your physician and a trained physiotherapist or trainer.

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