Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group interesting suggestion I found

Hey everyone,

I just started getting Arthritis Today magazine and I was readin through the latest issue. I found an article titled "Proper Performance, Follow the experts top 11 fitness do's".

I know most say that in a day of joint pain and stiffness you should get up and stretch and workout and such. But actually I was readin tip number 11 in here and it says "pushing through pain is not the thing to do. If your joints are hot or swollen excersise can increase the damamge and pain." It also says "But remember arthritis pain and muscle pain froma strenuous work out are not the same, a little soreness a day or 2 after a workout is ok, more than that is not".

I thought this was an interesting suggestion because even my mother tells me I need to get up and work out of im in pain, ive also heard this from several people from different forums. But I just thought I'd share this with yall if any of you thought the same. I think you can order copies of the magazine from Arthritis.org if you are interested in reading the magazine!

Love always,
Korye

Hi Korye!
I wish I knew the right answer. I think what type of arthritis you have has a lot to do with it. I know with RA they get a lot of swelling and hot joints. With AS it's the ol' move it or fuse it. For me personally, I HAVE to move. Whether I like it or not. I get worse without exercising. Of course it's different if I've overdone it completely and am incapable of doing much then I just move about at my place. I rarely get swelling, only my knees so my biggest obstacle is always the stiffness and pain.

I think I've been able to tell the good kind of pain from exercising and stretching out those muscles and the GOD BUG what were you thinking kind of pain!! lol

Take care!


Adios!
Buggie

aloha Korye,

my physical therapist taught me wall push offs-( like vertical push ups)...told rheumy i had stopped them
because left hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder didn't like that stress and the wear 'n tear...he said good thinking...
don't over stress the bad stuff.
best to you...16 now. happy birthday
aloha Ben

Hi Korye, I think the best guideline is that, if you are not in flair, but just in normal everyday pain, then do your full exercises. If you are in flair, don't push it, but you should still try to do something, even if it's a five minute walk around the living room, or 'air conducting' for a couple of minutes, just to keep the joints moving and get the muscles a little warmer. It's not pushing through the pain (which is a sadistic thing that dance teachers and exercise mavins talk about alot), but gentle movement to keep yourself from stiffening and feeling worse than you already do.

They taught me in the Arthritis Self-Management program (which is the same in both Canada and the States) that regardless of flair, you should at least do something. Just listen to your body and be smart about it, as the guy in the magazine was right. When your muscles are in alot of pain, it's probably best not to aggravate them by doing a fullout exercise program.

Hugs,

Kat


"I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work."- Thomas Edison