Lifting Weights with Arthritis?

lizpitts
lizpitts Posts: 67 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have severe arthritis in one knee and moderate arthritis in both shoulders. Currently my only workout is the pool. I jog in chest deep water for 30 to 50 minutes 6 days a week and do 20 minutes of upper and lower body exercises 4 or 5 days a week. I'd really like to add some weight lifting to that to build strength and muscle. I can do bicep curls, seated row, flys, chest press and leg press but with a very low weight.
Any ideas about what I can add to that very short list?

Replies

  • gxmiller31
    gxmiller31 Posts: 55 Member
    This may not apply to you, but when I turned 60 I developed arthritis pain in my right wrist, thumb, elbow, ankle, knee, basically I was suddenly afflicted and couldn't lift and move as I had in the past. It took me a over a year to figure out that gluten, a pro-inflammatory, was making my arthritic joints swollen and very painful. I eliminated gluten from my diet and within a week I felt WAY better.

    It may not help you but it worked wonders for me. You might read up on it, maybe test it out.
  • susanrechter
    susanrechter Posts: 386 Member
    Sounds like the OP gets a good amount of daily exercise. I'm impressed.
    I heard that sugar is a culprit when it comes to arthritis. Arthritis, inflammation of the joints, may be aggravated by sugar, sugar may feed the inflammation. We need carbohydrates for energy so I am figuring simple sugars, candies, cakes, may create high blood sugar levels contributing to the inflammation.There was also something about how sugar creates oxidation. It's all sort of a domino effect, one thing leads to another. I know my arthritis acts up when I eat too much refined sugars and that includes cakes, so the gluten may be a trigger as well.
  • susanrechter
    susanrechter Posts: 386 Member
    If you're already exercising in the pool, why not add pool weights to your program? See how that goes and if it aggravates your arthritis.
  • lizpitts
    lizpitts Posts: 67 Member
    Thanks for the suggestions. I'm Type 2 diabetic so my sugar is VERY limited. I don't eat any refined sugar but do have a little fruit. I don't eat a lot of wheat but I probably need to cut it out altogether. I've used water 'weights' some but I'm having a hard time finding new exercises for them. I think I need to google more...lol. I'll try no gluten and see if that helps. It sucks that bread is SO convenient!

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