Physical Activity
Regular exercise is important to keep you moving and independent. Exercise helps lessen pain, increase movement, reduce fatigue and helps you feel better.
Range of Motion Exercises
Range of motion exercises reduce stiffness. They keep your joints flexible by moving them to their full extent. Do these exercises daily.
Strengthening Exercises
Strengthening exercises increase or maintain muscle strength. Strong muscles help keep your joints stable and make it easier to move. Do these exercises daily or even every other day.
Endurance Exercises Build Fitness
Endurance exercises help keep your heart healthy and control your weight. You should exercise for a total of 20-30 minutes, three times a week, at a pace that raises or sustains your heart rate. You can build your endurance by exercising for shorter periods of time.
For information on our physical activity classes click here.
Heat & Cold
Using heat or cold over joints or muscles may give you short-term relief from pain and stiffness. You can also use heat or cold to prepare for exercise. Some people like heat and others prefer cold. Heat helps relax aching muscles. Heat sources include heating pads, hot tubs, baths or heated pools.
Cold numbs the area so you don't feel as much pain and can reduce swelling. Cold sources include ice, cold packs and even packages of frozen veggies.