Seniors: What kind of exercise can you do if you have arthritis, bad knees or feet?

Question

Are you able to get around without a motorized chair or a cane? Can you do Tai Chi?

Answer 1

From what I have heard it is important that you do flexing exercises with your feet - bend your foot as far down as you can, hold it for a couple of seconds, then bend it was far up as you can, and hold. Rotate your foot in a circle. My friend who has arthritis told me her doctor said to do this and it has helped me - not as painful since I started doing it.

As for knees Sitting on the floor with your legs out straight, bend your knee fully up to your hip then slowly lower out straight. Repeat with the other leg, see link below for various exercises and ideas

Tai Chi can be very beneficial for arthritis treatment, contact whoever is teaching Tai Chi in your area and ask about classes for people with arthritis

FYI for someone who said they hadnt heard of Tai Chi, its a form of martial arts training, however the movement are gentle and develop flexibility and strength, its not a combative martial arts program

The parks in China are filled with seniors every morning doing their Tai Chi

Answer 2

I have an arthritic spine and plantar faciitis. I use a walker when walking any distance.

I have found that all of the different things mentioned above have a tremendous value if they work for you.

I do spinal exercises for my back in bed each day. An isometric type of thing. I'm also losing weight and have found that that is lessening the pain.

I got my greatest advice from my Dad, who had very severe Rheumatoid Arthritis: "When you retire, don't sit down". I walk every day. Most times not more than 1/2 mile, but it keeps the plantar surfaces of my feet stretching and helps keep the pain down Fortunately, I still have good knees and keep them as healthy as possible with daily MSM.

Answer 3

I have exact problem, osteoarthritis.I am very over weight. You can wear T shirts and fuller suits in gym pool. I learned how to pace self on bike in therapy. A year later on treadmill. I also now do water exercise, it is great and the hot tub feels great also at gym I joined. Some have classes for arthritic elders geared for exercises for bad joints. You can also do exercises while sitting to strenthen muscles that work with knee. Sit and hold leg straight out count of 10, swithch, repeat. Then after few days try hold it up longer. Also sit and lift up heel as if tapping heel, repeat. Then the normal kind of tapping. Learned these in therapy. Might be more on line to learn *mamatx

Answer 4

Imagine for a moment your arthritis completely vanishing right now.

If, in a moment, your pain and stiffness melted away. And your joints all of a sudden functioned like a well-oiled machine.

Like a magic wand was waived, you'd be able to jump up from your chair and run around the room like a kid.

And imagine that you'd never have to suffer as much as a pinch of arthritis stiffness or pain ever again.

I know this sounds impossible right now, but bear with me, because sometimes miracles happen.

It was a gift from a woman on the other side of the world. From the kindness of her heart, she took pity on my suffering and taught me how to completely reverse my arthritis.

Today, I want to do the same for you!

Answer 5

Aquafit is good for arthritis, but the pool has to be heated to at least 80 degrees, many pools have such programs.

Tai chi is also good, you can do some of the stances from a chair depending upon your teacher.

PBS has exercises for older people on very early in the morning, around six am, at least where I am where they use elastic bands or cans of soup for resistance weights.

Contact your local physio therapist or even your family doc and they can put you in touch with some one who specializes in exercises for those with arthritis or other disabilities.

Answer 6

I refuse to use the cane my doctor recommended years ago, unless my knee keeps on dislocating and locking up on me.

As to exercise, I force myself to cut the grass (8,000 sq ft is a LOT of grass). And I weed my gardens, both vegetable and flower. And I run around stupid after my three grandsons, when I can no longer stand the sight of them playing alone...ESPECIALLY when the water guns come out!

Of course, I have been letting the housework slide this summer. I don't see the point of keeping shiny clean floors with three boys running in and out all the time through mud and leaf debris. A vigorous sweeping every day will have to suffice for awhile.

One thing I have noticed about my arthritis, bad knees, and bad feet (I have osteoporosis and get greenstick fractures in my feet all the time), the more you force yourself to do, the less it hurts...like marathon runners, once you hit that "wall" your body's endorphins kick in on the other side and the pain recedes to tolerable levels. (But it will require pain killers the next day when those endorphins are long gone.)

Answer 7

Never heard of Tai Chi. I have a bad foot, and arthritis. You can do sit down exercises. There is also a machine mounted on a table, allows you to duplicate pedaling a bicycle with your arms.

Answer 8

Don't forget to drink lots of water. I thought I had arthritis until I noticed that after drinking lots of water while working out at the gym my hands stopped aching. Now I always have a water bottle with me. One less thing to worry about.

Answer 9

I have had both knees replaced. The second replacement is not as good as the first. The first day I started water therapy at the Y I walked for an hour in the water! Before that I could not walk for ten minutes. It takes time but it works, try it.

Answer 10

I have arthritis of feet and neck, do full resistance work outs at the gym....I just work through whatever pain is going on that day. Resistance trainging keeps me relatively lean, decently muscled, and gives me energy.