10 Physical Activities to Maximize Your Mobility and Combat Arthritis

When you have stiff and painful joints, you're probably not eager to walk around your neighborhood or swim a few laps – even though you know you should.

Exercise is necessary for people with arthritis. It keeps your joints strong and flexible, reduces joint pain, and helps control swelling. However, you should only engage in low-impact, joint-friendly physical activities.

Examples of these activities are the following:

Water Walking

To get you started, you may want to work with a professional instructor to learn how to do it effectively and safely. Because water walking isn't only good for lessening the impact on the joints (compared to walking on land), this exercise is a lot easier and less painful. These instructors can also ensure that people don't overdo it, especially since water walking feels so good that it's easy to over-exert yourself.

2. Water Aerobics

Just like water walking is good for the joints, water aerobics can have the same effects on the body. However, the primary difference is people get a full-body workout. From participating in upper body activities to moving your mid-section during water sports, water aerobics is ideal for many reasons and purposes.

3. Swimming

Swimming is another water sport that is great for people who suffer from arthritis pain. While helping people to build up their cardio resistance, it's also good for working with each muscle group. This exercise is usually highly recommended for anyone dealing with knee pain.

4. Bocce Ball

If you want to avoid aggravating the pain that you experience in your elbows, shoulders, or wrists, you need to check out bocce ball exercises. These exercises are designed to help people to move around a lot freely without overtraining in any way.

5. Golf

Aside from riding comfortably in a golf cart throughout the game, golf is the perfect sport for anyone who wants to strengthen their wrist, hands, upper back, and their legs, and shoulders.

6. Shuffleboard

The game of shuffleboard gives players a chance to use their legs and arms to push both the weighted puck and cue forward. Before starting this game, however, there's at least one precaution that you need to pay close attention to. Avoid pushing the puck too hard – this will aggravate shoulder or elbow arthritis.

7. Walking on a Treadmill

Walking on a treadmill is also a great activity that you can participate in. Since treadmills can be controlled in many different ways, you can walk easily in certain settings and you can spend as little or as much time as you desire to achieve maximum benefits.

8. Walking Outdoors

Studies have shown that walking outside can have a large impact on improved quality of life for arthritis sufferers. Walking outdoors has been shown to help with managing pain levels and mobility issues. Without the fear of falling or obstacles on the ground, people with arthritis feel more confident in their ability to walk.

9. Cycling

When people are young, they may go cycling all of the time. However, as people begin to age, cycling isn't always considered to be a great pass time. Even though this may be true, you can begin to increase your flexibility by gradually adding cycling into your daily routine.

10. Cross Country Skiing

If you want a complete body workout, you may want to try cross country skiing. Unlike the rigorous moves of downhill skiing, the joints in your knees are exempted from the twisting and turning that leads to additional pain. Instead, you get a full-body workout with minimal strain. However, you need to avoid this activity if you have severe arthritis in either your lower or upper body.

Arthritis can lead to limitations in mobility, which can negatively affect your life. We hope that reading this article will inspire you to go out now and get moving.