Best Workouts for Joint Pain

   

Posted by Merritt Clubs

Feb 6, 2018

bigstock-Athletic-swimmer-training-on-h-134401106.jpgMany of us have a variety of issues that make exercising more difficult. One of the most common problems is joint pain, either from a chronic illness such as arthritis or by being a little too hard on our joints when we were younger. This doesn't mean you have to give up on exercise entirely! There are plenty of other options available to those with joint issues.

The best exercise for those with joint pain, hands-down, is swimming. It's extremely gentle on the joints because of the relative weightlessness of water. You can get in a good workout even though you don't have to force your joints to do weight-bearing exercises. Swimming is the ultimate combination of cardio and strength training. Depending on the severity of your issue, swimming should make up a large part of your workout routine.

If you feel like you're able to add another exercise, you may be surprised to find that free weights are a good option for those with joint pain. Weightlifting helps strengthen the muscles around the joints, helping to protect them by taking some of the strain away from those areas. This type of exercise mimics what we would have been doing naturally in the past, because manual labor has always been one aspect of the human experience.

There are a few exercises to avoid until you know your limitations for certain, such as running and cycling. These kinds of activities can be hard on the joints. Don't despair; you'll find an exercise you're passionate about even if your joints give you grief. Check out your nearest Merritt Clubs to find out if there are any types of exercise they can recommend for your personal circumstances. You'll be sure to find something that fits your lifestyle and gets you back into the swing of things again.

Topics: swimming, joint pain, weightlifting