Studies have shown that exercising helps people with arthritis in many ways. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness and increases flexibility, muscle strength, cardiac fitness, and endurance.

A very important point to remember when starting an exercise program is to build up your sessions gradually, start by using small weights in a controled fashion working the muscle on both sides of the joint. We all know that beginning a program of exercises seems a daunting task but by starting off slowly and trying to make it fun you will soon reap the benefits and help reduce arthritis pain.

Take into consideration recreational exercise. Activities like swimming, walking, t'ai chi and dancing can be a good start. Have a word with family members and friends and find out what's going on in your area. Water exercise and bicycling are also great options, because they are virtually non-impact. Water exercise is especially ideal because of water's soothing warmth and buoyancy.

Walking is one of the easiest to do and is an extremely efficient exercise. Even slow walking is beneficial because it will help the mechanisms in your body, put you in a better mood, help with any anxiety and give you more self-esteem.

By exercising regularly you will benefit enormously in your fight against arthritis, along with the added benefits of controlling your weight and keeping you healthy, and reduce your chance of getting osteoporosis.

Weight-bearing exercises are most effective for osteoporosis while walking, running and a gentle resistance program including hand weights provide the best results. Weight and resistance training are just two examples designed to help accomplish these goals. These exercises should only be done every other day and your therapist will help create a beneficial workout for you.

There are some very good arthritis exercise Video and dvd's available which are a real help in controlling the pain of arthritis through improvements in joint flexibility. Exercising is one part of a comprehensive arthritis pain treatment plan. People with arthritis may be unfit, weaker, and less flexible and suffer more pain than need be.

So try your best and help yourself with a few gentle exercises. Any exercise will be beneficial in the fight against arthritis, but please make sure you consult your Doctor or therapist before undertaking any exercise to help with arthritis pain. Always better to be safe than sorry.

Tags: Arthritis Joint Pain, Arthritis Exercises, Health, arthritis, Exercise, joint pain