Note: If you are not feeling well, please self-quarantine to protect yourself and those around you from potentially transmitting anything. If your symptoms worsen and match the symptoms listed here, please call your primary care doctor to determine whether you should seek medical attention.
With all of the craziness happening in the world today, with scares from the Coronavirus (or COVID-19) and all of the implications that come with it, you may find yourself getting stir-crazy from staying inside all the time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to prevent the Coronavirus is to avoid being exposed to the illness in the first place. Because of this, many cities and states are issuing a “Shelter In Place” order, meaning that all non-essential businesses are closing and citizens should remain in their homes when possible.
Here’s the good news: this order doesn’t mean that you can’t stay active! Exercise provides a wide variety of benefits, especially for people who suffer from chronic pain due to arthritis! There are still multiple forms of exercise that you are free to take part in during this time. Low-impact moderate-intensity exercise provides a multitude of benefits, without the worry of worsening arthritis.
These benefits include:
- Loosening stiff joints
- Strengthening muscles, especially those that support your joints
- Increasing endurance
- Improving confidence
- Managing and improving certain health conditions
Note: The CDC recommends keeping 6 feet of distance between you and anyone around you when leaving the house to do any forms of exercise mentioned here.
Walking
When the weather is nice, a long walk can be a great form of low-impact exercise. Find a greenway near you, or head out on the sidewalk if you live in a low-traffic area. Just 20 minutes of walking per day can help loosen your muscles and joints, and improve your mood.
Stretching
One of the easiest and most important exercises that you can do for your health and arthritis is stretching. Stretching increases your range of motion, lubricates your joints, and helps you stay mobile in the future. Stretching is best done when your muscles are already warmed up, so stretching after a long walk or bike ride will be more effective than stretching before.
Yoga
Yoga is a low-impact, usually gentle form of exercise that is made up of stretching, controlled movements, guided breathing, and balance. There are various types of yoga, which have varying levels of intensity, so making sure to start with a low impact version is extremely important. If you’re looking for a good place to start, try with the video below:
This video by Yoga With Adrienne can also be found on YouTube.
Remember, the most important thing is to make sure that you are staying active and staying healthy. Take appropriate precautions to protect yourself from exposure to any illness.
Enjoy some fresh air, take the time to breath and relax. Although this is a time of uncertainty, it is also a time to practice self-care and take time for yourself. Keeping active at this time (when possible) is essential to maintaining your physical and mental health.
Physical exercise when done correctly should feel slightly uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. It is important to remember not to “push through the pain,” as you can end up injuring yourself or making a current injury worse.
Contact the Experts
If you’re experiencing joint pain, whether from an injury, arthritis, or any other reason, the joint pain experts at Flexogenix® are here to help. Flexogenix® specializes in minimally-invasive, non-surgical solutions for joint pain due to a variety of conditions. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation, and let us show you how our solutions can give you freedom from your joint pain and help you have a healthy, active life.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
