Christine---water exercise is equally awesome for those of us with OA!
I also found it a great way to recover (with Dr. permission of course) from all of my joint replacement surgeries. The Arthritis Foundation also offers a warm water based version of Tai Chi---which is awesome for OA AND RA---if you can't find the location in your area---please call your local chapter and they should be able to help---
pattye
Hi Christine,
Can I just say what a great article. I'm a fellow RA sufferer who is thankfully having a great period on Humira, so much so that I've been more active in the last year than I had in the previous ten. I've always been searching for the right excercise regime & know how hard it is to get the balance right. It is only now that I feel confident to push the boundaries & go for it. Like yourself I also have elbow contractures & damage in many joints, but have been an advocate of swimming building up to 1500m a couple of times a week. The improvements in fitness & strength has allowed me to start cycling again, something I thought I'd never do again. With renewed confidence I even went on a 5 day windsurf course on a recent holiday, fantastic. I've found through exercise I've met fantastic people, improved my mental wellbeing & built up more flexability & strength which help counter the affects of the arthritis. I know that it isn't always possible to exercise durring flares, but from my experience we can mostly acheive more than we think & that from a small start I have been able to acheive far more than I ever thought possible & look forward to my next challenge.
Many thanks for highlighting the benefits of excercise & good luck.
Regards
Dave Roe
I note your article - I have tried swimming - as the only exercise I could undertake -but when trying to swim my knee joints become very stiff which prevents me swimming successfully.. I end up just moving my arms and trailing my legs which is quite an effort... can you advise?
gbart
Hi, I went through a period last year where any exercise or walking, including swimming, sent my knees into flares. Part of it, I think, was that I was in a period of med changes and so my arthritis was out of control. Anyway, I don't know if this will be helpful at all, but I did like you, I often swam with just my arms. Floats for your legs can help with this. When I did kick, I made sure to use a flutter kick only and to concentrate on softening the knees, not holding my legs rigid to ease the muscle stress. I had to give up breaststroke because the frog kick exacerbates my knees. If there is a trainer or swimming coach at your gym or pool, it might be a good idea to have a session to talk about the problem, so they can see your stroke and offer advice or technique that could help relax the stress on your knees. Poor stroke form can stress your shoulders, knees, back, etc.
On days when my knees were really bad, I just walked back and forth in the pool or concentrated on upperbody water aerobics exercises, or would go into the therapy pool and tread water doing a bicycle kick.
I hope this is helpful. Don't give up.
Christine
I have been swimming three weeks and what a difference it has made I am on Enbrel for over a year and have lots of other health problems. I do 45 minutes varried activity working all my body and stretching. the water is cold most of the time so i take a few minutes to warm up. on land I cannot hardly walk a block. knees shoulders pop but I press through. I feel great in water till getting out but I feel I am getting stronger and slimmer. A really nice benfit my 2 kids come and workout with me. I feel so much better happier and more like life is fuller like almost normal. Two years ago I could not stand on my own. now i go to my pool gym almost everyday!!
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Hi Christine,
Thank you for this article. I have been looking for a program/routine to use in the hot tub. I stretch & do my range of motions but have no scheduled routine. Through your article I found a pamplet from the Arthritis Foundation for exercise/stretching in the hot tub. I can testify to the fact that the warm water is a great relief. Warm water allows my muscles to relax, which help my joints to relax, which in turn helps my mind to relax. Isn't it amazing how so many things connect in your whole system.
As I journey through this "experience" of RA, I find my self to really appreciate good days. I've come to the reality that I will not ever have a pain free day again in my lifetime. A blessing that we all have is the ability to share our experiences on this site to hopefully help and comfort one another whenever possible. I've read your articles from the first day I came across this website, you are an inspiration. I thank you for your smiling photo and your up lifting words....good info too;)
Thank you again, God Bless,
Connie
Connie,
You've absolutely made my day. I try to write about things that will be interesting and helpful. Thank you for your positive outlook and your encouragement. I hope the hot tub exercises continue to be helpful for you.
Be well,
Christine