Once you are told that you have arthritis, your lifestyle has to change. The normal workout routine you used to follow must change. Your doctor will give you a treatment plan, which will include foods and exercises that will be good for you, and ones that you must avoid. Usually, you will be advised to avoid exercises that are hard on the joints. You might also have to give up some of the food you love - red meat, processed foods, additives and dairy products are known to aggravate the condition.
There are a whole range of activities and exercises you can choose from even if you do have arthritis, though. Activities like yoga and tai chi are good for the body and mind. Weight training under supervision is another option open to you. Aerobic activities like dancing is always a fun workout and endurance building options like cycling will still be open to you.
However, it is important not to take matters into your own hands - talk to your doctor and get advice before you start on a new exercise program, or you might end up aggravating your arthritis instead of alleviating it.
Health clubs are a great option, as are health products. These might seem expensive, but if you check, you might find out that your insurance company offers some kind of discount with health clubs and with health products. You can always make the best of such offers.
Moreover, there are health clubs that offer discounts to people who hold policies with certain companies. If you scout around, you will find excellent health clubs that offer great services, including personal trainers who are well-qualified and know what kind of exercises will be good for arthritis patients. You might have to pay for such services, but it will definitely be worth it.
Another option which is rather more cost effective is to join the local YWCA or the YMCA. Water aerobics is a fairly popular activity in such institutions, and it's an activity that helps arthritis a lot. Not only is it helpful, it is also not a fatiguing activity and it is a lot of fun.
Application of heat always helps, with different kinds of arthritis. Generally, proper application of heat for anywhere from five to fifteen minutes can give a lot of relief and make sure that joints remain flexible. This is especially important before exercise.
Once you do apply heat, a few light stretches will get you all set for your exercise routine. Once you are done with the exercise, do some light stretches again and then cold packs to your joints to get any inflammation that might be present back under control.
Two things are very important when you start with your exercise routine - you must enjoy your routine and you must be comfortable with it. Even if you have arthritis, your exercise program should not cause you any intense pain, and you should have fun doing it.
