to reduce the ache,to prevent progress of disease
Swimming is the best form of non-weight bearing exercise. It can do no harm and it can do so much good for you. Strengthening the supporting muscles around the affected joints helps to protect the joints from stress...let the muscle take the blow, protect the joint. All exercise is good for OA...stay as active as you can...now is the time to realize that you MUST "use it or lose it"!! If you do too much and particular joints flare...ice them and rest them for a while but keep on exercising or the joint will deteriorate. Take NSAIDS if you must to control pain and inflammation and remember ice cools the flare...heat is for sore muscles...ice is for inflammation of joints. If the heat feels best psychologically, follow it with ice to cool it down...trust me, it works! If you haven't already, get to a good Rheumatologist who can help you control your disease and join the Arthritis Foundation to get their magazine "Arthritis Today" which will give you constant sources of help for living with Arthritis....membership is only $20 per year....a bargain! Good luck....I'm 20 years into my OA and I'm healthier and more active now than I was 20 years ago....you can do it too!
Source(s):
www.arthritisfoundation.org
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