Before directly jumping onto the advantages of different physical workouts for arthritis patients, let’s first understand a little about arthritis itself.
Basically, Arthritis is referred to as the condition when joints in the body start to stiffen, swell, and leave a sense of sharp pain. Different types of arthritis affect different joints, however, the signs are pretty common in some. Typically, arthritis worsens with time so the best one can do is not ignore and manage on time.
In Ayurveda as well, the doctors often advise their patients to not miss exercises like stretching, yoga, or other forms of physical workout as their regular routine. This is not just beneficial for physical health but it can greatly improve mental as well as hormonal health. This way a correct balance can be retained in one’s body which allows them to heal swiftly. It is the same in the case of Arthritis. Therefore, this article is a short recap of the benefits, exercises, and yoga for arthritis hold.
Well, it will be very difficult to go through all types of arthritis in one article as there are almost 100+ types. So, let’s just note down some of the most common ones out of all:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Post-viral arthritis
Juvenile arthritis
Gout, etc.
Benefits of exercises with arthritis
- For arthritis patients, here’s a short list of the benefits of exercise. Take a look at what exercise can do:
- Exercise for arthritis of the knee will help with joint lubrication and nourishment
- Exercises for rheumatoid arthritis will improve joint pain and stiffness in all small joints
- Easy yoga for arthritis will improve joint flexibility
- It builds muscular strength
As discussed above, it balances the body internally
Sleep routine will automatically become better
Shoulder exercise for arthritis will also improve posture
Good exercise for arthritis in the knee will maintain the density of the bones
Overall health and fitness improves
Stress levels are managed
So, these are the major advantages that one receives with yoga and exercise for arthritis patients.
Exercises: To Do in Arthritis
There are many different types of exercises to choose from. What suits one best will depend on one’s personal preference and the severity of their arthritis condition. If an individual is unaware of how to choose the correct one or is unable to make the decision, feel free to consult the expert doctors of Dr. Sharda Ayurveda. They will guide properly after understanding the unique constitution of each patient. Here’s what types of exercises one can choose from:
Yoga Asanas
One often might think, is yoga appropriate for arthritis patients? Like how one can perform different asanas or movements when one is experiencing sharp pain? Here’s the answer to that –
Yoga is one of the best alternatives that will not only minimize joint pain but will also improve flexibility, mobility, and balance of the joints. As stress further exacerbates the condition, yoga will effortlessly manage that as well. Therefore, allowing one to sleep better.
Thus, under the guidance of an expert, feel relaxed to perform yoga for arthritis knee, hands, spine, arms, shoulders, and all other parts of the body.
Some effective asanas suggested by the experts of Dr. Sharda Ayurveda are:
- Trikonasana
- Paschimottanasana
- Vrikshasana
- Bhujangasana
- Padmasana
- Setu Bandhasana
- Balasana
Range of motion exercises
The different range of motion exercises include exercises for hands, knees, shoulders, hips, stretching exercises, or it also may include simple walking. These are very effective for those arthritis patients that are looking for solutions to overcome stiffness. In addition, it will also increase joint mobility.
For a better understanding, here’s a short explanation of how to do these exercises –
Hand & finger exercises – allow the fingertips to touch the top of the palm of the same hand. Open and close it at least 10 times. Repeat this exercise for a few times a day.
Shoulder exercises – lie down straight on your back. Raise one arm slowly over the head, keeping the elbow straight. Repeat this exercise 10 times as well with each arm.
Knee exercises – sit comfortably on a chair. Straight out one leg and then bend the knee. Bring the foot back as far as possible. Repeat x10.
Stretching – gentle stretches before yoga or any exercise early in the morning help to open up the stiffness of joints. Also, relieves morning stiffness.
Walking – short walks on a flat surface are recommended. Outdoor walks in nature are better than walking on a treadmill. It brings peace of mind.
Strengthening exercises
Strength training is recommended for some patients. This helps build the muscles that support joints. This way, excess strain on joints that cause arthritis effects is minimized. However, strength training should not be started without asking your current arthritis doctor as everybody’s severity of disease differs.
Strengthening exercises for arthritis may include weight training, push-ups, squats, etc.
Conclusion
Exercise or any physical activity should not only become a part of the routine during the healing time. Rather, one should understand how crucial it is to constantly move our body and keep diseases at bay. Precaution is always better than cure. Therefore, start your fitness journey today and feel the difference in your body shortly.
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