Gym and RA?

Hi. I play tennis 2/3 times a week, I'm very overweight and it kills my knees but I've decided that as long as ice packs help (which they do), I'm going to keep at it because it is good for my mental health and other aspects of physical health. I may be completely doing the wrong thing and may end up crippled in years to come but that's my choice for now. However, someone more sensible would probably say the stationery bicycle and gentle cross trainer would be fine.

I go to the gym i was going once a week but its a far gym to travel to and difficult to get to in the winter i do however plan to start up again soon, i did yoga also there but bought a dvd and started to do it at home (not sure if am doing it right so think i will start the classes again, in the gym i would do what you want to an can do, dont push yourself to much i went on everything in the gym but didnt over do it, they say swimming is the best form of excersise or any kind of excersise even long walks, enjoy the gym x 

Hi there,

I lift weights twice a week, do cardio (running, walking on an incline, crosstrainer) three times a week and train in contact combat too. While the weight lifting is great for stablising my joints, cardio and combat do tend to leave my feet pretty sore the next morning. But I do as much as I can because it makes me feel normal, keeps my weight down and lifts my mood.

Of course, that's not to say that I'm doing the right thing. Although my condition was caught early and my joints only flare seriously every few months, I probably push myself harder than I should. Fatigue can be a real problem. As can lingering joint pain after long weeks. But my specialist is happy for me to continue as long as I listen to my body, rest when I have to and dial the intensity back when needs be. 

The best advice I could give is to (if you can afford it) hire a personal trainer with a physiotherapy background to take you through your first few sessions and create a plan that's right for you.

Hope that helps

Vickie

 

I just ordered a DVD from a woman I saw on PBS.   Miranda Esmonde-White. One DVD is stretches for mobility and the other are stretches for bone strength both geared for arthritis.  Moving so critical and I wish I had figured that out when I first started having problems moving. 

Personally, I don't really like gyms, so I prefer outside activity when possible, but if I do, walking is a good thing (some of my Drs disagree, some support), running can be nice, swimming is great too (some clubs have pools, so I don't know what you are after). Combining a treadmill with cross training will work on joints differently, so it's good. When I was well, I used to do inclines and cardio training. These days prefer a stable walking path. When I felt relatively well last year, I had TRX classes 3 times a week with a trainer who is also a therapist and 3-4 times a week walking outside. Now I can't do TRX and frankly up to few months ago couldn't do anything, but recently I try to get back to waking 3-4 times a week. Would do the same in gym. Heavy lifting is not surely a thing that I would recommend. Yoga and philatis are said to be good. The most important is to listen to your body and push your ability but not to overdo. Good luck and enjoy!

I was so immobile when I first had RA ( diagnosed aged 62)that I lost a lot of muscle in arms and legs. I have built exercise back in very slowly: first hydrotherapy exercises with a physio  in a heated pool by joining local arthritis society. Then I joined a health club attached to a hotel as the pool is warmer than municipal pool( I swam and did the exercises I d learnt from physio) Then I began line dancing,which I love! 

After that I got a training session at the health club. I just told them I had RA and wanted exercises to strengthen muscles,but not put a strain on joints. I think it s worth having some kind of induction with someone who knows what you should avoid. We are supposed to avoid hard contact and we re supposed to avoid joint strain but I expect it depends on how used we are to exercise and how affected our joints are by RA.

Heated pool for me has been a life saver, and even my heart failure husband with dr's permission has joined in.

I get in pool, do various stretches, very gently for a start, then grab a noodle or water log, go in the deep end, and tread water for 3/4 hour, in between, going back to my stretches, a couple of times,

Very good group of friends have formed from the regular attendees and we also have a good chatter and catch up on news.

With RA you want to ignore the no-pain-no-gain slogan. Do NOT push yourself through pain when you have RA.

Start light, take it easy and slowly, otherwise you may permanantly damage your joints.

The best exercise for RA sufferers are swimming and cycling.