Hi. I am brand new to this site and want to thank all the friendly people for making me feel so welcome here. I’m wondering if anyone has a suggestion for exercises that are tolerable on the joints yet still beneficial to the body. The things I loved are no longer options for me - walking (knee arthritis) and weight lifting (shoulder arthritis). Exercising hurts, but my doc says I still need to. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I’m so inactive I feel like a slug…
Hi Liz,
I do arthritis yoga every other day and it has totally helped with my range of motion issues. I find it helps to stretch muscles gently rather trying to walk or other types. I tried walking but found this to cause me more pain while doing and after. I learned about the yoga from an informerical on PBS. I'm sure you've fallen off your chair in laughter, but it was a good answer for me. I had been experiencing a reduction in muscle and motion ability for months and had been quite concerned. My husband ordered the DVD about 9 months ago. If you're interested, you can find it on their website and also on the Arthritis Foundation website. It was produced by the Arthritis Foundation.
Hi Liz,
Welcome to this community! I would try biking. At the moment my knee feels good, but two months ago when it didn't, biking made it feel better, not worse. It brings down the swelling a little and it makes the joint more flexible. I like to bike to work... and walking got so bad I would bring my cane... on my bike rack. I probably looked rather silly. I also have friends who use biking for knee rehab.
--Andrew
Hi Liz,
I'll throw in my two cents for aqua-aerobics. It is low-impact but you still get cardio benefits and some muscle-building from the resistance of the water. Hope you'll find something that you like and can comfortably do!
Andrea
Hi Liz,
I had the same problem a while back. I love Yoga, but can't do most of the poses now due to shoulder/elbow issues. I'm going to look into the DVD Anne Marie mentioned above. I loved walking...but then the knees ached. Like Andrew, I tried biking. It strained my shoulders and was rather painful until my husband bought me a recumbent bike as a gift. It's been fabulous!!! I can get an 8 mile morning in, without the aches and pains and actually work up a bit of a sweat :). And it does help the knees. After my body warms up, it's much easier to do other exercises. If you have access to a gym, give it a go. The standard stationary bikes still hurt my shoulders, but with the recumbent, there's no leaning into the handlebars...
Good luck :)
CiCi
i swim every week at least once and up to three times, I find that it helps with keeping mobile. I use swim gloves and that helps with a bit of support in the wrist area and helps as i can’t keep my fingers closed together.
Liz! Nice to "meet" you. Yes ... well ... I feel just the same. Like a slug. Horrible for someone who has always been moderately active. I used to be a keen walker (I used to park way at the far end of the lot because I liked having a walk on the way in to shop). Then my good knees went bad. I had them replaced, but never really got my stride back because other pain started to invade my body. After several years of pains and complaints and not feeling great, I was diagnosed with PsA two months ago. My arthritis is primarily in the mid-foot, so walking and standing is very painful. I have just ordered a wheelchair, which was a sad milestone for me. But, looking for the silver lining now, at least it will give me an upper body workout!
I'm a great swimmer, and I'm good at it, but with arthritis I cannot do it unless the water is warm. No place like that around this neck of the woods! Exercise bike? Ouch, just the thought of the pressure and movement on my foot! I'm considering getting a WiiFit to do yoga and (limited) pilates, but it doesn't sound like a lot of fun. At least that that would give me some range of motion and core strength.
It's such a problem, isn't it? I don't know what other people do either. Maybe the answer is to relax and accept yourself the way you are. But I know, I don't like the way it feels either.
Best
Seenie
Hi Anne Marie. That’s a fabulous suggestion! I did not laugh a bit. People have suggested yoga, but I don’t really like going to classes. A video at home would solve that problem! Thank you so much. 
I will give it a try.
anne marie said:
Hi Liz,
I do arthritis yoga every other day and it has totally helped with my range of motion issues. I find it helps to stretch muscles gently rather trying to walk or other types. I tried walking but found this to cause me more pain while doing and after. I learned about the yoga from an informerical on PBS. I’m sure you’ve fallen off your chair in laughter, but it was a good answer for me. I had been experiencing a reduction in muscle and motion ability for months and had been quite concerned. My husband ordered the DVD about 9 months ago. If you’re interested, you can find it on their website and also on the Arthritis Foundation website. It was produced by the Arthritis Foundation.
Hi Andrew, ok that’s really good information. I like to bike, but wondered if the pushing of the pedal was doing damage (because it hurt). I love the outdoors and I asked my doc and he said it’s fine, just no hills. I’m glad you found something that helps your knee pain. And it’s good to hear from someone with one of the same specific joint problems I have. Thank you!
Andrew said:
Hi Liz,
Welcome to this community! I would try biking. At the moment my knee feels good, but two months ago when it didn’t, biking made it feel better, not worse. It brings down the swelling a little and it makes the joint more flexible. I like to bike to work… and walking got so bad I would bring my cane… on my bike rack. I probably looked rather silly. I also have friends who use biking for knee rehab.
–Andrew
Thanks Andrea. I love swimming. Trying to find a pool close-by. Thanks for a great suggestion!
Andrea said:
Hi Liz,
I’ll throw in my two cents for aqua-aerobics. It is low-impact but you still get cardio benefits and some muscle-building from the resistance of the water. Hope you’ll find something that you like and can comfortably do!
Andrea
Hmm CiCi I’m not even sure what a recumbent bike is but it sounds very interesting. I checked with my doc and he said biking is fine, but no hills. I will check into this further!
CiCi said:
Hi Liz,
I had the same problem a while back. I love Yoga, but can’t do most of the poses now due to shoulder/elbow issues. I’m going to look into the DVD Anne Marie mentioned above. I loved walking…but then the knees ached. Like Andrew, I tried biking. It strained my shoulders and was rather painful until my husband bought me a recumbent bike as a gift. It’s been fabulous!!! I can get an 8 mile morning in, without the aches and pains and actually work up a bit of a sweat :). And it does help the knees. After my body warms up, it’s much easier to do other exercises. If you have access to a gym, give it a go. The standard stationary bikes still hurt my shoulders, but with the recumbent, there’s no leaning into the handlebars…
Good luck
CiCi
Thank you lilacmickey! I’m absolutely going to try swimming. I love to swim. Thank you!
lilacmickey said:
i swim every week at least once and up to three times, I find that it helps with keeping mobile. I use swim gloves and that helps with a bit of support in the wrist area and helps as i can’t keep my fingers closed together.
Hi Seenie. I really like your post. There IS something to be said for accepting things and making the best of it. I really like how you are positive about gaining core strength, even faced with the ordering of your chair. I’m going to try all of the suggestions above - swimming, biking, and yoga. Thank you and take care!
Seenie said:
Liz! Nice to “meet” you. Yes … well … I feel just the same. Like a slug. Horrible for someone who has always been moderately active. I used to be a keen walker (I used to park way at the far end of the lot because I liked having a walk on the way in to shop). Then my good knees went bad. I had them replaced, but never really got my stride back because other pain started to invade my body. After several years of pains and complaints and not feeling great, I was diagnosed with PsA two months ago. My arthritis is primarily in the mid-foot, so walking and standing is very painful. I have just ordered a wheelchair, which was a sad milestone for me. But, looking for the silver lining now, at least it will give me an upper body workout!
I’m a great swimmer, and I’m good at it, but with arthritis I cannot do it unless the water is warm. No place like that around this neck of the woods! Exercise bike? Ouch, just the thought of the pressure and movement on my foot! I’m considering getting a WiiFit to do yoga and (limited) pilates, but it doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. At least that that would give me some range of motion and core strength.
It’s such a problem, isn’t it? I don’t know what other people do either. Maybe the answer is to relax and accept yourself the way you are. But I know, I don’t like the way it feels either.
Best
Seenie