Is Exercise Good For Arthritis? (Plus a Giveaway!)

When you have a chronic health condition, finding a balance to maintain your health without pushing yourself over the edge can be tricky. This is especially so if you have a condition that could potentially get worse by physical activity, but still needs you to do some. Today I’ll be talking about how I have managed to find that balance. If you don’t have a chronic health condition like arthritis, reading this may help you understand the lives of those who do (PS – read What To Say To Someone With Arthritis)

Motion is Lotion

“Motion is lotion” is the idea that moving your joints on a regular basis will keep them moving. You may have heard in the Celebrex commercials that, “A body at rest stays at rest. A body in motion stays in motion,” which is based on Newton’s first law of motion. This is true. If you have arthritis, think of the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz. His joints get stuck and need to be oiled up. That what our joints are turning into thanks to our immune systems. We need to keep them from getting that way, and medications can only do so much. So you need to apply motion to them.

But, of course, this is where it gets tricky. Moving can be extremely painful. If you’re asking, “Is exercise good for arthritis?” you should understand that the answer is yes and no. Too little won’t do enough. Too much could set you over the edge.

Exercise for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia: Minimum Amount for Me

Exercise for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia: Maximum Amount for Me  

How to Recognize When to Stop

How to Say “No”

Probably the biggest thing that I had difficulty with is learning when and how to say, “No, I can’t do that,” to my friends or family when I knew that I needed to. I didn’t want to turn down doing something. I didn’t want to admit that I couldn’t or shouldn’t do something. But a crucial part of living with and managing chronic illness is mastering the “No.” Even if you think that you might be able to do something, you need to ask yourself if you should do it. This is a skill that I’ve been trying to hone for a long time. Here are a couple of ways that you can say no:

No.

No, sorry, I can’t go.

I’ve already done too much today.

I have plans. With Netflix and ice packs and heating pads and NSAIDS.

Sorry, my [insert body part bothering you here] isn’t doing great today.

How about I do [insert easier-for-you task here] instead?

I can’t today. But tomorrow I’ll do that plus [some other task you can do].

How about [alternate date] instead?

Target Giveaway

Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.