When you have arthritis, it may feel like any movement makes your pain worse. Unfortunately, lack of physical activity actually worsens joint pain. You need to exercise regularly while minimizing the impact on sore joints. The following five tips will show you how to exercise with arthritis and sore joints while reducing your pain.
Thoroughly warm up
It may be tempting to rush through a quick warm-up before exercising, but jumping into a workout without warming your muscles up properly can cause sore joints. If you already have arthritis, this pain only compounds. Take your time. Make sure to incorporate some light cardio like a brisk walk and dynamic stretches. Once the blood is flowing, you can jump into your regular exercise without worrying that you’ll make the pain worse.
Mix up your exercise routine regularly
Doing the same exercise every day can quickly cause overuse injuries in your muscles. If a muscle is tired from overuse, your joints have to take more impact. That’s why people with aching joints should incorporate even more variety into their workouts, whether by alternating the types of motion or the areas of the body used.
Go for low-impact activities
When you have sore joints, certain exercises will almost always be too strenuous. That’s why arthritis patients are encouraged to do lower impact exercises, such as swimming, Pilates, or biking. You can even mitigate the impact of traditionally higher-impact exercises by shifting your weight or shortening your range of motion.
Don’t skip post-workout stretches
A cool-down can be just as important as a warm-up for people with arthritis. Tight muscles impede normal movement patterns and reduce joints’ range of motion. Stretching prevents this kind of irritation. Make sure to stretch each of the major muscle groups, holding each stretch for at least 30 seconds.
After exercising, treat sore joints with proven, natural remedies
After stretching, sometimes joint pain remains. While it may be tempting to simply forego exercise for a few days, you actually may be able to get rid of your sore joints using several natural remedies. A foam roller can compress your fascia (the connective tissue that cushions your joints), triggering a rehydration of the tissue that relieves joint pain. You can also use topical pain relief, such as Sweet Releaf’s cannabis body butter, to sooth sore joints without psychoactive side effects. After a warm shower, your muscles will be soothed and pores will open, increasing the efficacy of Sweet Releaf.
While exercising may intimidate many people who suffer from arthritis, research shows that it may be the best way to reduce your pain with few risks. Knowing how to exercise with arthritis and sore joints remains vital for anyone who wants to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise keeps the worst symptoms of arthritis in check, so staying active is a necessity, not an option. Make sure to keep these tips in mind as you work out, and keep those joints mobile.
