Arthritis Foundation Forum / Let's Move Together / Ways To Move

Beth's Movement Journal

Beth Axtell — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:50:15 GMT

So along with the Let's Move Together movement tracker, I thought it would be fun to journal my movement. This way other people can see what I'm doing, chastize me when I miss a training session, encourage me when I'm ready to bail on my workout, etc.

Join in! Start your own journal. I'll visit your journal and poke and prod you too!

A little about me: I work at the national office of the Arthritis Foundation. I'm 42 years old. I've been physically active for many years. What's different now is that I've recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my right knee (probably is in my left knee as well, but the doc only MRIed my right). I've had to change my training and workouts to accommodate the pain and stiffness and to minimize any further damage. I know, however, how important it is that I keep those knees moving and keep my quadriceps strong!

My general training schedule is to do 3 days/week of cardio and 3 days/week of weight training. One rest day per week.

Today was a weight training day. The office has a small fitness center that I go use during my lunch hour. It doesn't have all the equipment of a big commercial gym, but I make it work. :) Here's what I did:

Chin-ups: 8; 5; 5

Bulgarian squats, unweighted: 3 sets of 15 each leg

Rows: 60 lbs x 3 sets x 15 reps

Straight leg deadlifts: 25-lb DBs x 3 sets x 15 reps

Incline DB presses: 25-lb DBs x 3 sets x 15 reps

8-count body builders: 10

mountain climbers: 50

burpees: 15

crunches: 45

Pain after exercising

starshine — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:46:42 GMT

I have been exercising regularily for a few months now and recently I have been having more pain. I usually do floor exercises to a DVD or My Fitness Coach game for the Wii. My knees and right shoulder have started to hurt for a few weeks now. I went for a walk the other day and my shoulder is much worse and I got shin splints on both legs! I don't get why if I have been exercising for a while, a walk would give me so much trouble! I haven't given up though. :cool: starshine

exercise

Diane B — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:30:38 GMT

I realize this is not a very popular forum, but I was wanting to start seriously exercising in the new year. I have resisted exercise since I first had RA symptoms in Jan 07. I was always strong, athletic. I reallywant to make a decision to live strong within my limits. I was wanting an accountability partner. any interest?

jogging

jean pierre — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:05:49 GMT

Bonjour. First of all let me apologize for my poor english because I am a french speaking runner. I am looking for some one who can share his experience of having arthritis and keeping running . Actually, for years I have ran 3 times 1 hour a week, but 6 months ago I had to stop because of problems with my feet. Last month, I got a very clear diagnostic from my doctor: psoriasis arthritis, so no way to re start the jogging, at short/medium term.

Can some one give me some advises?

1) make it sense to run when there is no pain or it will influence the desease negatively

2) I take mtx and I feel already a huge improvement. It seems that with this desease we need to take at least 6 months the mtx to have a remission. Is it better to wait the remission to re start the jogging ?

3) any other advice on how to train to reduce the risk of having an injury ?

Many thanks.

San Diego Support Group for Fibromyalgia

Sharon Female — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:31:56 GMT

San Diego, CA (Mission Hills)
New Support Group in San Diego for Fibromyalgia:
www.meetup.com/San-Diego-Fibromyalgia-Support

Watsu/Aquatic Bodywork Sessions,
Water Therapy Classes for Pain Relief and Gentle Exercise/Movement.
www.AqOasis.com
www.WaterChiTherapy.com
www.SharonPlache.com

Private Warm Salt Water Pool.

Come join us.
Blessings,
Sharon

Strength

Wayne Hauber — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:25:06 GMT

In November of 2007, my physician recommended strengthening some of my leg muscles. I had finished a large weight loss program (115 pounds) and need to rebuild some muscle mass in my quadriceps and gluteal muscles.

I was referred to a physical therapist who gave me some great isometric exercises for my quads and some good all around strengthening exercises for my legs.

The exercises helped me a lot. I am still doing the exercises over a year later. During that year some sort of inflammatory OA flared up. I was extremely glad that I had successfully strengthened my legs.

I was able to run in the 5K run for the roses arthritis run in Ames, Iowa and the Susan Kommen run for the cure.

I've talked to a number of people about arthritis. Most acknowledge that they *should* strengthen the muscles that support their joints...but they hurt too much just now or don't have time.

So, I thought that a discussion of strength, motivation and arthritis might be relevant.

What do you think?

Women with Arthritis Needed for an Online Survey

Karen Glazebrook — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:48:16 GMT

Researchers in the College of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan are doing an online study to better understand what may or may not keep women with arthritis from doing physical activity.

If you are a woman over 21 years of age who has been diagnosed with any type of arthritis, we invite you to participate in an online survey at the following site:

https://survey.usask.ca/survey.php?sid=14109

Just type or copy and paste the link into your browser window.

The survey will ask about your thoughts on physical activity and your arthritis and will take approximately 25 minutes. A 5-minute follow-up survey will be emailed to you in 2 weeks.

All of your responses will be anonymous. (The University of Saskatchewan Research Ethics Board has approved this study: Beh # 05-230.)

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in North America. Women have higher rates of arthritis than men. There is no cure for arthritis - but we do know that regular physical activity will help people with arthritis feel better. We are trying to figure out what keeps or doesn’t keep women from doing activity. Once we know this, we can then better help women do activity more regularly and feel better in the long-term.

Thank you very much for your time and support of this important research!

Tai Chi Video/DVD?

Pinkie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:46:12 GMT

[font=Comic Sans MS][size=3]I've heard that tai chi is supposed to be a good exercise for RA. I thought it might be easiest to get started with a video/DVD. Does anyone use this method and have suggestion for which one to get?

Thanks.
Lisa[/size][/font]