Exercise and arthritis

bbzgrl110

I've recently been told by my general physician that I most likely have arthritis in my ankle and foot as a result of tarsal tunnel surgery I had done about 12 years ago. I have to go to a foot specialist to get further checked out. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with exercising and arthritis. I've been thinking for quite a while about trying to so more distance walking and working myself up to running. I realize that walking will be good for it, but is running now out of the question? Will the impact cause more harm than good? I'm just trying to find other ways of burning calories that I'm not going to get burned out on. Trying to mix it up a bit.

Susanh43

I too am interested on some input on this. I was just told I have arthritis in my left knee. I was told absolutely no running, no jogging, no walking on a treadmill, no high impact exercise, no lunges. So...no more Turbo Jam and strength training could be tricky supposedly. I am doing research and talking to folks, but hoping someone here with experience could lend some ideas please?

I'm thinking Pilates, walking, light weights?

I also have to lose at least 50 pounds (I want to lose 62 or 65) but have to keep my activity "conservative". Ummmmm?????

PinkCoconut

Obviously this is definitely something to put by your doctor but I'm wondering if a mix of walking and something like Tai Cheng would help on top of paying super extra attention to your eating? Walking to provide the cardio you need and Tai Cheng to help with your flexibility, agility, mobility and strengthen your muscles and joints. This may be a good place to start and then work up from there?

I don't think anything should be ruled out but I would start off slowly to build your bodily strength before doing anything harsher like running.

Feel free to friend me, I have tons of info on Tai Cheng!

sumeetg37

I have a lot of crepitus/arthritis in my knees, they make lots of fun noises going up and down stairs. I found a couple of exercises really helped eliminate alot of the pain, and some of the noise. Quad sets, sit on a bench (or if you are flexible enough on the floor with your back against the wall). Tense the quad on the right, lift your leg slightly off the bench or floor hold for 5 then lower, repeat for 5 sets of five on each side 2-3 times per week. If you are a cubicle rat like me then every day once or twice a day move to the front of your chair, left foot flat on the floor extend the right and flex your quad hold for 2 then relax, do ten on each side.... These two exercises actually helped my knees enough that I could start doing starting strength which has really helped my knees quite a bit...


Forgot to mention that if you are doing the quad sets on a bench the non-work leg should have it's foot flat on the floor.

JayMri

I have arthritis in my knees. Jumping and running cause a lot of jolting so I don't do it. A couple of years ago I went to physical therapy and that helped a lot, they had me doing exercises to strengthen my knees. The more active I am the better they feel! I also used to do a lot of low impact but have found the more weight I've lost and the stronger I have become the less I have to do the low impact versions.

Susanh43

Thank you so much everyone for your input! I'm encouraged by your recommendations and first-hand experiences.