Exercising with Arthritis

Do you exercise regularly? How have you had to alter your routine?

By Annette Beach

Recently I received a Maxine cartoon that read, "I don't exercise because it makes my coffee spill."  My first thought was, I can relate to that!

In all honesty, I like to exercise, but I don’t do it on a regular basis for the same reasons as most of you. I have severe limitations due to arthritis and when I do exercise, I risk causing further damage to my body.

It may sound like an excuse to avoid exercising, but it’s not. Over the years, I have tried several exercise routines and various styles, but I’m unable to continue because of the need for surgery, or I damage a body part that was already weak. I’ve attempted to do tai chi and yoga (including altered versions), but my limited range of motion makes it almost impossible. The few moves I am able to do are minimal and have no real benefits.

Being unable to exercise in a traditional manner is frustrating, but I haven’t given up!  

Instead, I try to incorporate exercise into my daily routine. On good days, when my legs are able, I take the stairs instead of the elevator. If I take the escalator, I walk it rather than stand still and ride the whole way. When removing clothes from the dryer, I take one item at a time instead of pulling a bunch out at once. That way I bend and reach several times. I'll stand on both sides of the dryer to balance out the routine and stretch the right as well as the left arms. After grocery shopping, I carry one or two bags at a time into the house, making more trips back and forth to the car. When I let my dog in and out, I pull and push the sliding glass door a few times with each arm. Since she goes out multiple times each day, I consider it a workout.

To some, it may seem like a silly routine, but it gives me a small sense of accomplishment and it does challenge my body to do a little extra. On the days when my body aches or I’m feeling bad, I don’t have to do it. Then it’s not as much of a let down and I don’t feel as guilty.

For years, I’ve been doing isometric exercises, a type of strength training involving the contraction of muscle without moving the angle of the joint. I can do them anytime. While driving, standing in line, watching TV, drinking coffee, whatever ...  It's extremely important to keep my muscles active and it does increase my strength and abilities. I have pictures of my arms bone skinny in the ’90s, but since doing isometric exercises for more than a decade, they look better, feel better and I've had a decrease in atrophy.

Do you exercise regularly? Have you had to alter the way you exercise because of an illness? If so, please share. Your ideas or creative ways could motivate the rest of us.