Bill Pay

Edina:  952.922.0330   |   Mpls:  612.339.2041

OrthoRehab - Edina Physical Therapists

by

Arthritic degeneration comes for us all, and that’s to be expected because our bodies are not immune from stress. Decades of stress will take its toll on our body and our joints, but shying away from activity isn’t the best way to manage arthritis-related joint discomfort. Staying physically active will help to strengthen the joints and ensure you maintain as much flexibility and function as possible, but being active isn’t always easy if your arthritis is causing discomfort.

With that in mind, we want to share some simple tips for helping patients stay active if they are dealing with pain and discomfort in their joints due to arthritis.

Staying Active With Arthritis

Everyone experiences arthritis in their own way, so what works for one person may not work for someone else. However, if you keep some of these tips in mind, we’re confident that you will find ways to maintain or improve function in your arthritic joints.

  1. Low-Impact Exercise – You don’t need to pursue incredibly intense exercises or high-impact exercises that end up being quite stressful on your joints. Instead, start with some easier low-impact or no-impact exercises like walking, swimming, yoga or moving on an elliptical. Try different exercises to see what feels comfortable on your joints, and strive to pursue these activities at least a couple times a week.
  2. Manage Your Diet And Weight – You can also take some stress off your joints and make movement easier by paying closer attention to your diet and making some healthy choices to maintain a healthy weight or work towards a healthier weight. Joints in our hips, knees and ankles feel the stress of our body weight with every movement we make, so shedding just a little weight can take a lot of strain off these arthritic joints.
  3. Sync Up With A PT – A physical therapist can be an incredible lifeline in your quest to overcome discomfort caused by arthritic joints. A physical therapist will conduct baseline tests and regular movement evaluations to learn more about your strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. Best of all, the therapy program they develop will be tailored to your exact needs, and they’ll adjust it as you become stronger so that progress doesn’t plateau. You don’t need to take on your arthritic joints on your own, call in a professional and let’s tackle them together.
  4. Non-Exercise Physical Activities – We understand that exercise isn’t always enjoyable, especially if you have arthritic joints, but you don’t only need to pursue exercise in order to stay active. Consider taking up some new hobbies or activities that keep you moving that don’t feel like exercise. Kayak or paddleboard around a lake, join a walking group with friends, take up gardening or join a pickleball league with your spouse. Find something you enjoy doing that doesn’t feel like a chore, and you’ll be indirectly improving the health of your joints.
  5. Don’t Ignore Recovery – Finally, once your exercise or activity is complete, make sure that you are taking care of your body during the recovery phase. Use ice, heat, stretching techniques and anti-inflammatory medications to help manage discomfort that is sure to follow physical activity. Working to manage inflammation will help to minimize discomfort and make it easier for you to pursue exercise again in short order. Being active is only half the battle, you also want to provide the right environment for recovery to take place after you’ve stressed your joints.

Let us help you stay active or overcome specific joint discomfort that you’re dealing with. Connect with the team at OrthoRehab Specialists and let us ease your joint pain. For more information, give us a call today at (612) 339-2041.

Dr. Andy Masis, PT
Latest posts by Dr. Andy Masis, PT (see all)
Make an Appointment Skip to content