Arthritis Water Exercises

Arthritis is the inflammation of joints and the symptoms include fever, redness and swelling of joints and joint stiffness. The two main types of arthritis are: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It has many causes and is seen to affect people of all age groups.

The causes of arthritis include abnormal metabolism, injury, genetics (family history of arthritis) and infections. The stiffness of joints is the reason that the movement of joints is restricted. Exercise is the key to reduce this stiffness, make the muscles flexible and reduce weight. Exercising lowers the stress levels and helps reduce the pain due to inflammation of the joints. Water exercises are soothing and safe. Warm water helps to relax your body muscles. Usually, visiting the spas before or after exercising for massage is an easy way to relax the muscles. The arthritis water exercises are gentle on the muscles and joints, and are beneficial as the water supports the painful joints while exercising and helps build the strength of the muscles. It is very important to consult a doctor before you start with any such exercise.

Important Instructions for Arthritis Water Exercises

There are some of the instructions that should be followed before you start the water arthritis exercises. These instructions are as follows:

• If you are using a hot water pool or tub, check the temperature of water using a thermometer. Exceedingly high temperature is not safe for the human body.
• If you are suffering from heart diseases, low blood pressure or high blood pressure problems, multiple sclerosis and other serious diseases, it is recommended to consult the doctor before you start the water exercise for arthritis.
• Pregnant women should not enter hot water pools without medical recommendation.
• The water exercises must not be practiced after consuming alcohol and drugs.
• When you are practicing these exercises, it is necessary that someone should be there to help you get into and out of the pool.

Water Exercises for Arthritis

These exercises are most suited for weak joints as these are low impact exercises and relatively easy for reducing weight. In arthritis, other exercises cannot be practiced due to the restricted movement of the joints. You should always remember that start with an easy exercise to warm up your body. The water exercises for arthritis should concentrate on the part of the body, which is affected by arthritis. Some of them are as follows:

Wrists and Fingers
Submerge your entire body, below the neck, in the water to perform the water exercises for arthritis in wrists and fingers. Stretch your arms to face in front of your body with your palms faced to the ceiling. Then, turn the palm so that it faces the bottom of the pool or tub. Repeat this action ten times and perform it slowly. The exercise for wrists is to bend the wrist up and down with your arms stretched out in front of your body. Repeat this 5 times. Curl your fingers to form a fist and again stretch open the palm. Practice this exercise on both the palms at the same time.

Elbows and Ankles
Stretch your arms in front of you and then bend the arms in your elbows so that the thumb touches your shoulder. This exercise strengthens the muscles of your elbows. For your ankles, follow this procedure. Stand up and raise the leg in the forward direction with your knees straight for about 30 degrees. Slowly, bend your ankle up and down.

Hips
Stand up in the water and bend sidewards. Maintain the bending position for few seconds. Initially, start from 5 seconds. Again, stand in an upright position. Repeat this procedure by bending on the other side. Another exercise for your hips is to stand in an upright position and hold the pool wall with your left hand and swing your right leg in a forward and backward. Repeat this using the right hand to hold and left leg to swing.

Walking
Walking in the water is the best exercise for your knees and ankles. Remember to swing your hands when you walk in the water.

These are some of the preliminary arthritis water exercises that will help you get relief from the pain and increase your muscle strength. There are fitness clubs and recreation centers where classes for these exercises are conducted.