Walking can relieve stress, strengthen your bones and muscles, controls weight and makes your body feel good.Walking is an inexpensive aerobic exercise that almost anybody can participate in even if you have arthritis.
Keeping active with exercise is one of the best things you could do if you have arthritis. Check out good walking trails in your area; or if you have paved sidewalks. Walking in the winter could present problems especially if you are in an area where there is snow and the sidewalks are not cleared. Another alternative would be to walk in the local malls.
Most people who have arthritis are capable of walking for exercise. If you can walk when you shop, or do household chores then you can walk for exercise. You should be careful when first starting to walk; doing only about ten minutes each time for the first two weeks. You should gradually build up your walking routine by a few minutes each week until you reach thirty minutes.
Choose where you walk very carefully and make sure you have a good level surface. It is likely you will find good walking areas in malls, designated walking trails, and on paved sidewalks. You should stay away from hills, soft ground or gravel as these surfaces can be difficult to walk on and could lead to knee, hip, or foot pain.
If you walk slowly for about five minutes this will warm your muscles up and gets you ready for a brisk walk. This is called the warm-up. When you are finishing your walk you need to do the cool-down. That means for the last five minutes of your walk, you'll just stroll. This allows your body to cool slowly after building up heat from walking vigorously.
When you start walking as an aerobic exercise it takes practice to find the right speed for you. Remember to start of with a stroll, then gradually increase your speed until you feel comfortable. If you find that you can't walk fast enough to increase your heart rate; then try bending your arms at the elbows while carrying a one or two pound weight and swinging your arms vigorously. The extra work you are doing with your arms increases your heart rate without forcing you to walk faster than you find comfortable.
If you notice any discomfort with knee pain after you have been walking try knee flexibility exercises before and after you walk. Then you could add some strengthening exercises. This should reduce any pain you may be getting after walking.
Comfortable shoes for walking is something you will want to consider. It might be wise to invest in a good pair of running shoes with shock-absorbing soles and insoles. There are tons of different styles to choose from in the marketplace today and at reasonable prices. Make sure your shoes fit properly and don't slip up and down on your heels while walking. Velcro closures are great for people with arthritis in the fingers and require no effort to close.
Remember, shedding extra pounds by exercising is not only good for your heart it also lessens the pressure on the joints. People who exercise on a regular basis look better, feel better, sleep better and have more energy.
For further information on ways to fight arthritis naturally please visit my website at http://www.removingjointpain.com and get a copy of my Free Report.
