Confused about exercise 😕

NixJM71

Morning, I'm a newbie here 👋 This is a long ramble, please bear with me!!

I was diagnosed with OA & fibromyalgia about 6 years ago and for the most part cope okay with the pain. But I'm so confused about exercise. My OA affects my hands (fingers), wrists, elbows, shoulders and ankles. I go to the gym and work with weights because there's a family history of Osteoporosis, and i know that weight training is effective in burning calories/ fat, and being overweight can put more strain on our bodies. So I thought I was doing all the right things

But I've since been told that weight training isn't good for my OA joints?! Also do yoga for mobility but again apparently this isn't great either for straining my joints 😬 Any help and advice gratefully received. TIA

Ellen

Morning @NixJM71

Welcome to the online Community. Your post is not along ramble at all and makes absolute sense. There is lots of contradictory information out there regarding exercise and Arthritis.

I am going to give you a few links to read while you wait for some of our members to come along with their own experiences:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2022/march/what-are-the-links-between-sport-exercise-and-osteoarthritis/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2022/march/will-running-wear-out-my-knees-and-lead-to-arthritis/

and finally

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2022/may/why-are-yoga-and-tai-chi-beneficial-for-our-bodies-and-minds/

Now that you've said hello maybe you'd like to take a look around the forum and join in wherever you fancy? The most popular category tends to be Living with Arthritis.

Best wishes

Ellen.

frogmorton

Hi @NixJM71 nice to meet you.

People do like to give us their opinions don't they?

My own (as you've asked!) is that exercise is good keeps all the connective tissues in good order to protect and stabilise our joints.

However not overdoing it is key getting it right. I walk every day pretty well as far or as little as I can I am convinced it helps me. I have also done some of the 'let's move' stuff on here.

You take care

Toni x

Lilymary

I’d say just listen to your body. It will tell you if you’re doing too much, or the wrong type of exercise. I kept up with yoga and pilates until the pain in my arthritic hip became unbearable, swimming is good as it mobilises the joints but with low impact. Just daily life probably does as much ‘damage’ as exercise, but the right exercises will keep joints moving and strengthen muscles to support your joints. My physio took the view that if it hurts for more than 30 mins after exercise, it’s too much, so step it down a bit or change what you’re doing. Eventually there comes a stage when we have to adapt how we do things, but that doesn’t mean we need to stop altogether.