Exercise and Arthritis: Is it Possible and Wise?

By making exercise and being physically active a daily habit, you are effectively taking control of an important aspect of your health--your activity level.

Assess Where You Are Now
The first step in managing your physical activity level is to assess where you are now. Make a list of your activities. Once you see how much you do or don't do in your daily life, ask yourself what you want to do more of. Do you want to play on the floor with your children/grandchildren? Would you like to walk through the grocery store without pain or to not use the cart for assistance?

Make some goals and put a date on them. Then go see your doctor before implementing your plan. He or she will help you make attainable goals while keeping your health in mind. Together, use an Exercise Calendar to schedule activities. You are now set to start.

Be Diligent
To manage your arthritis through exercise, you will need to be diligent. Just as you are sure to keep a lunch date with a friend or a doctor's appointment, make sure you keep your exercise date. Do not skip it unless you are in too much pain to do it. When you exercise, notice how you feel. If you experience any pain, ease up or stop what you are doing. Listening to your body is important because it will let you know what it can and can't do. Modify your routine to lessen the amount you are doing and see your doctor to make sure you are exercising properly.

Be Gentle with Yourself
In self-managing exercise, it is important to remember that falling off a routine is only normal. Just make sure you get back to it. These things can help: Keep a positive attitude. Do something you love such as, taking a walk in your neighborhood, doing leg lifts while watching the morning news, enrolling in the community arthritis water class. Do a little exercise when you don't feel like doing any it counts no matter what!

Make short-term goals that you can accomplish.
As long as you do it, you are one more step closer to forming a positive habit. Use your calendar to check your results every weekend. Give yourself a small reward if you stuck to your program most of the time, or something bigger if you did it every day you said you would.

Exercise with people who enjoy the same activities.
If you go walking, ask a neighbor or your partner to come along. Support is important for maintaining a new activity. Once you have decided on a new activity, make it a habit by committing to at least two weeks.