Seven Fitness Tips For People With Arthritis

(NC) – September is Arthritis Awareness Month and Dawn Richards, vice-president of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, recommends that people living with these inflammatory conditions would benefit by incorporating daily physical activity into their lives.

As a person living with rheumatoid arthritis, she says that keeping active has helped her stay fit while keeping her joints in motion – and all of it benefits her physically and mentally.

Here are Richards’ tips for staying active with arthritis:

• Modify, modify, modify. Do what you can by modifying your exercises to suit your ability.

• Ask your doctor for his or her advice on what has worked for other patients.

• Try to be active every day even if it’s just a walk – but do it at your own pace.

• Do activities that you enjoy, it will make exercising more fun.

• Develop a regular routine and stick to it as much as possible.

• Find resources, like patient associations in your area that can offer tips. Or work with a trainer who has experience dealing with individuals that have arthritis.

• Set small realistic goals and reward yourself as you accomplish them.