Motion is lotion… is a common phrase heard around any rehab clinic, usually referring to easing stiffness/pain from arthritis.
Arthritis is a very common condition that causes inflammation of the joints creating pain with movement and sometimes at rest. People dealing with arthritis may suffer from intermittent or sharp pain in joints such as hip, knee, ankle, neck, back, fingers, hands/wrist and muscles (and it can even be a pain in the butt for some).
What used to feel like a pain free activity now causes discomfort and decreased range of motion making once loved activities difficult and less enjoyable to perform. Due to pain and difficulty with activities, most people will reduce activity levels in fear of causing that pain. However, by reducing activity levels it may lead to added joint stiffness and more pain.
Here comes the phrase “Motion is Lotion.” By keeping the joints moving through regular exercise you can reduce those nagging aches.
You can feel better! Exercising with arthritis can be achieved, but remember to start slow performing light activities for short periods of times in a pain free range of motion. In the beginning activities should be low impact such as swimming, biking or walking. A well rounded workout program consists of stretching exercises to increase range of motion, strengthening for muscular endurance and aerobic activity for cardiovascular health. Including those into your daily routine should will help relieve pain and promote optimal quality of life.
A well rounded workout program consists of stretching exercises to increase range of motion, strengthening for muscular endurance and aerobic activity for cardiovascular health.
Pain is one of the ways your body tells you something is wrong. It is always important to visit your Primary Care Provider (PCP) to discuss an appropriate plan of care before starting a new exercise program.
Always remember with regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and visiting your PCP regularly you can live a pain free life…oh and a warm shower doesn’t hurt either.
JTOPS highly experienced therapists can evaluate you and together create a plan of care to get you living your best life.