Rest days are important to any workout routine – allowing the body to recuperate. But the antidote to doing too much is not doing nothing, cautions Mark P. Cote, a physical therapist and sports medicine and clinical outcomes research facilitator at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. "Doing nothing, regardless of what type of arthritis you have is going to make your arthritis worse," says Cote.
On rest days he recommends gentle exercises that increase flexibility for arthritis joints. If you usually walk two miles, you might walk just to the corner and back, or try walking in the pool to take advantage of the water's buoyancy.
Try these low-impact exercises to keep joints flexible between workout days.
For the neck:
• Look straight ahead.
• Tilt head gently sideways toward shoulder.
• Hold 3 seconds.
• Repeat to other side.
For the shoulders:
• Stand at the bottom of stairs with your hand on the banister and slide your hand up and down the banister.
• Move to other side of the stairs and repeat with the other arm.
For the arms:
• Hold arms at sides, palms forward and elbows straight.
• Raise arms out to sides and up as if clapping hands above your head.
• Lower arms slowly and repeat.
stair and the bannister are very useful.
I have been participating in exercise classes
for my arthritis for years. I can understand the disappointment of Molly for her not being able to get a warm pool to do exercise,and then finding the facility inadequate. I enjoy traveling in the late fall to Hilton Head and they provide a heated pool. In weather that is 30 degrees I can do my exercise, and even enjoy playing with my grandson.Suggestion to Molly, if the facility is not providing services find another facility, Thi Chi and Yoga are wonderful and we don't have to use warm water to sooth our joints.
Dona
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