Arthritis and Exercise

[Calyssa]

Hi to my fellow arthritis sufferers.

I have been trying to follow a low carb plan for a few years now, but I find losing weight, and just plain not overeating, difficult because of the drugs I take for my asthma.

So I have started to exercise more in the fond hope that it might help shift a few pounds. But my joints really do hurt after walking for just a few minutes. My doctor says just to do gentle exercise and to stop when it hurts. In that case I would never even get out of bed in the morning!

So my question is to anyone else with osteoarthritis: Have you found exercising helps your joints at all? And is it helping you to lose weight?

[ryan6563]

Yes exercising helps. However try not to use staircase and also avoid sitting down. If it is possible try and import some herbal medicines or oil and do a massage on a regular basis.

[ProFaction]

Hey I have found that it is helping a lot! I find that I need to eat the lowest sodium foods I can find because that helps my joints not hurt too. If you have access to a swimming pool that is an awesome way to exercise that doesnt seem to hurt so much!

[MNLoser]

I'm new here and just starting Atkins today - I know I need to exercise to make this really work but I have pretty severe arthritis in my knees as well as my shoulder. I'm contemplating joining a local gym but I do feel a little worried about causing myself more pain.

[mizski]

Swimming is great if you have access to a pool. I started out with Qi Gong and Tai Chi. Both are gentle movements and work well with arthritis. I like the Qi Gong for Weight Loss DVD. Here's a little video to give you an idea of what it looks like. I know it doesn't look like your typical cardio stuff, but it is very helpful...and doable without pain. I found the more I did the movements, the more my pain lessened. Between Atkins and Qi Gong/Tai Chi I no longer need any of my arthritis meds.

ETA: I now have a Wii and do a lot of those workouts too plus other more traditional workout DVDs.