Just under 23 percent of U.S. adults have some form of arthritis. Of the 54 million with arthritis, almost half of them limit their activities due to the discomfort. The problem is that activity is one of the best ways to help arthritis. Regular exercise, weight loss, and the use of NSAID pain medications are the three most common treatments for arthritis.
If your mom and dad have arthritis and limit their activities, help them become more active. These three exercises are good ones to start with.
Swimming
Home Care Yonkers NY – Three Effective but Gentle Exercises for People With Arthritis
Water activities like swimming are very good for people with arthritis. Buoyancy helps ease pressure on the joints. If the water is warm enough, the warmth helps, too.
Look for water aerobics programs, swim laps, or walk laps around the edges of a pool. Any of those help your parents work the joints.
Walking
Walking is a good exercise as it’s easy on the joints. Your parents move a lot of their body parts – hips, legs, knees, and ankles, while they explore the community.
The Arthritis Foundation came up with a program called Walk With Ease that’s perfect for people with arthritis. The program can be done with a group or independently. Your parents create a walking plan that fits their fitness level and arthritis issues, become and stay motivated, and learn how to manage pain during and after walking.
There’s a guide they can buy online from the Arthritis Foundation’s online store. It teaches them exercises to warm up with before you walk. They can also join a local Arthritis Foundation group and have others to support them while walking.
Yoga
Beginner’s Yoga can be a gentle exercise for all ages. It stretches the muscles, helps with balance, and incorporates breathing that eases stress and creates a sense of calm. You can find Yoga videos online if they don’t want to go to a Yoga studio. If your parents’ balance isn’t great, Chair Yoga is better when starting out.
Have you considered having home care aides stop by to help your parents with some of their limitations? Caregivers can walk with them to help lower the fear they may feel being alone while walking around the neighborhood or on a path in the woods.
To arrange caregivers, start by calling our home care agency. They’ll walk you through the next steps and help you come up with a home care plan that works for your parents.
