Experiencing regular knee pain due to osteoarthritis, arthritis from previous injuries or rheumatoid arthritis can be severely bothersome. Sometimes, it hurts to the point that you are unable to move. However, if you exercise regularly, you may be able to improve the condition of your knees. According to a report from by Arthritis Care and Research, patients with knee osteoarthritis can gain significant benefit when they start walking as much as possible. Plus, it is a form of exercise that is relatively easy on your joints. If it has been a while since you have exercised, it is best to warm up your joints by doing some simple stretches or knee exercises before you start walking. It will make walking a bit easier.
If you have any form of arthritis, you may be a little uncomfortable at first. Nevertheless, with the constant movement, you will eventually feel better over time. Do remember to stop if you feel sharp pain or increased swelling.
WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the natural cushion in between joints and cartilage wears away. This is also commonly known as wear and tear arthritis. When osteoarthritis happens, the bones in your joints start rubbing more closely against each other. The cartilage reduces the shock absorbing benefits. This rubbing can cause swelling, stiffness, pain, decreased mobility, and it can cause the formation of bone spurs. There are several treatments which can help reduce the pain of having osteoarthritis. And low impact exercise is helpful.
REBUILD YOUR JOINTS
When you have osteoarthritis, you may experience intense pain in your knee area. However, low-impact exercise like walking can help restore joint stability. As you exercise, you are working the muscles around the joint and as the muscles get stronger they are able to support the joint. With new stem cell treatments, it is possible to regenerate the cartilage in your knee. Cartilage acts similar to a sponge, and it moves with the body as you walk.
STRENGTHEN YOUR LEGS
Walking helps strengthen your leg muscles so that it can help take off the pressure on your joints and handle your body’s weight. As your muscles get stronger, you should start seeing an improvement with your knee pain. If you don’t know what type of strength training to do for your knee pain, ask your doctor to set up a few sessions with a physical therapist to help you get started.
HELPS YOU LOSE WEIGHT
Walking can help you lose weight. As you drop weight, it helps reduce the amount of pressure that is put on your knees when walking. According to experts, for every pound you lose weight there is four times less pressure and stress on your knees. This makes a great difference especially if you have painful joints. Walking is a wonderful low-impact exercise that you can do to help you lose weight.
UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY BETTER
To stay healthy, you should walk at least 30 minutes of exercising 5 days a week. You do not have to do it at once, especially if you are experiencing knee pain. You can do 5 to 10 minutes of walking several times a day, and it will do wonders for your health. However, you should stop your exercise immediately if you feel any of these symptoms:
• Sudden increase in swelling
• Feeling unstable, as if you are falling
• Severe pain
• Aches and pains that are higher than 4 to 5 on a scale of 1 to 10
Osteoporosis is a painful condition which may hinder you unable to move. However, it is important to consider that exercise is also critical in your road to recovery. Walking is the best low-impact exercise that you can do to help improve your condition.