5 Ways Water Aerobics Eases Arthritis Pain

Do you suffer from arthritis pain? Water aerobics can be one of the best ways to ease arthritis pain with benefits lasting long after you have completed your water aerobics session.

If exercising on land is difficult for you due to joint pain, then water aerobics can be the perfect way to gain muscle strength without having to worry about excess pressure on hurting joints. Listed below are five ways that water aerobics eases arthritis pain:

1. Water Provides A Cushion

Simply being in water for Water Aerobics provides a cushion for fragile bones and joints affected by arthritis. Most water aerobics are done when you are immersed in water to your waist.  At that level of water your body will be bearing only 50% of its weight. The buoyancy of water allows movement with less pain than traditional out-of-the-water exercise for joints and muscles stiffened from arthritis.

2. Water Is Warm and Soothing

Nothing feels as good as something warm on stiff joints and water not only provides that soothing relief but it can also relax sore muscles and provide comfort when exercising is difficult and painful. Pools heated from the summer sun are an enjoyable way to ease arthritis pain as you can experience immediate relief in the water. Performing water exercise in a pool that is between approximately 82 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for pain relief. Heated pools can do for your whole body what other forms of heat can only do for specific areas to which it is applied. Warm water provides the ideal environment to do exercises that a person with arthritis might not normally do.

3. Water Is Less Stressful

Water Aerobics provides an environment for exercise that decreases the stress on painful joints compromised by arthritis. Some people have referred to water aerobics as “floating traction”.   As it stretches, loosens and flexes joints in ways that would be impossible if they were not in water. During water aerobics, painful joints are relieved and their range of motion and flexibility are increased. All these difficulties make living with arthritis painful.  But with water aerobics they can be dealt with in an environment that accommodates each individual’s fitness and health.

4. Water Builds Up

Water Aerobic exercise works all the muscles at the same time and increases the cardiovascular endurance without the impact on your body of traditional aerobic exercises on land. Being immersed to your waist, upper torso or neck increases the return of blood flow to the heart from the extremities. Increased blood circulation to the joints and muscles facilitates recovery and strength-building, all of which can lead to a less painful life with arthritis.

5. Water Workouts Burns Calories

Swimming, water aerobics, and water walking all contribute to weight loss. Losing weight can help reduce the impact of daily living on painful joints due to arthritis and lead to less pain. Water aerobics reduces swelling due to increased circulation from the low-impact movements that exercising in water allows.  This leaves the painful areas free of stiffness and swelling.  Which in turn relieves the friction that causes pain in joints.

If you have arthritis, what are you waiting for? Make a dash to splash in a pool and start relieving your arthritis pain!

Written by: Suzanne Andrews, Founder/Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews, PBS TV

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About the Author

Producer of the Arthritis Water Therapy 3 disc set and laminated instructional booklet, Suzanne Andrews is certified in Aquatic Interventions.  Also a licensed rehab practitioner. In her DVD, she offers you a series of easy to follow water therapy moves to ease pain in your knees, hips, back, shoulders and hands. Click here to see a FREE preview of Suzanne Andrews Arthritis Water Therapy DVD. http://www.shop.healthwiseexercise.com/Arthritis-Water-Therapy-DVD-CD-Booklet-Kit-728028067774.htm

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