Newswise — More than 50 million U.S. adults have arthritis. Many experiences severe joint pain and, likely because of their pain, don’t do much exercising if at all.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 15 million U.S. adults with arthritis have severe joint pain, which is a pain at a seven or higher on a scale of zero to 10. A CDC study found that even though physical activity can decrease arthritis pain, nearly half of adults with arthritis and severe joint pain are physically inactive. Severe joint pain and physical inactivity are linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes.
Joint pain can inhibit you from doing simple things like carrying grocery bags or holding a cup, let alone exercising. Understandably, pain and fear of worsening their condition can make you reluctant to engage in physical activity if you have arthritis.
There are low-impact exercises appropriate for all fitness levels for adults with arthritis. Siy recommends the following forms of exercise:
Aerobic exercises
Aerobic exercises can help improve your overall fitness, including your cardiovascular health, weight management, and stamina and energy. Walking, cycling and swimming are great forms of cardiovascular exercise that are promoted by several physical activity programs geared toward reducing arthritis pain. It is recommended that you work your way up to 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week.
Strengthening exercises
Weight training and resistance exercises can help strengthen muscles that support and protect your joints. If you have arthritis (and especially severe joint pain), you should avoid exercising the same muscle groups two days in a row. “Remember to rest a day in between your workouts, and take an extra day or two if your joints are painful or swollen,” says.
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