Exercise with arthritis

Shantelx
Shantelx Member Posts: 22
edited 18. Jan 2016, 18:34 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi I recently started squating lunging and lower body strength however it's knocked me I don't want to stop as I'd like to strengthen my legs n get my bum a little bigger any suggestions on how to make them easier or take the strain off my knees?

Comments

  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Shantel,

    I would not have thought squatting and lunging isnot being kind to your knees and I would imagine painful too. Good old walking is good for strengthening the legs and kinder to your knees if walking on the flat. An exercise bike is usually ok too as you are not weight-bearing but still moving the legs. You can go as fast as you wish and vary the tension on the bike to make it easier, less painful or more difficult to cycle. Not sure how you get your bum bigger though. ;)

    Elna
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,760
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm with Elna. Exercise is essential for arthritis but it has to be the right kind of exercise not the sort that will further stress the joints.

    Maybe you're trying to combine two different things here – exercising for the arthritis and exercising to improve muscle tone. Only a physio could tell you if that's possible. Why not make an appointment to see one?
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Do you have OA? If so then exercise should be non-weight bearing if at all possible, it's important to keep our muscles as strong and flexible as possible to help better support the joints but the less stress we can place upon the joints the better. Have you tried a cross-trainer at a gym? Or a step machine? The latter may also build your gluteus maximus if so desired. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • ScottiePam
    ScottiePam Member Posts: 32
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello All,
    See my reply to DD - Tai Chi and Qigong are excellent exercise forms for arthritis - in my class are folks who are very limited re mobility and weight-bearing. They have reported back to their various specialists of the improvements they feel.
    There was an article in the AC magazine regarding Tai Chi - but you need supervision initially, as a DVD won't tell you if you moving the wrong bits. And you really don't want to do that.
    Seek out a class. We have them in Scotland, but don't know if anything is starting up down there. :?
    Cheers
    Pam
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    I'm not sure that squatting and lunging is the best exercise.
    Have a look at the books that arthritis do. There is one "Exercise for Arthritis" you can download it
    Or ring the freephone number and speak to the help line.
    They will be able to give you advice to what and what not to do exercise wise
    good luck
    Love
    Hileena
  • Ladybrown
    Ladybrown Member Posts: 130
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    It's worth having a chat with a physio - I was lucky to get 6 weeks of 1:1 time in the gym to try to develop a set of exercises I can do with rickety knees. I do squats but with one of those big exercise balls between my back and the wall - does enough to please the physio and is much less painful than full-on squats. Lunges are a bit much for me but the physio tried lots of alternatives for strengthening and stretching exercises which I try to do when I can and pick according to what's happening in kneesville on the day :D
    Best of luck!
Back to top

Categories