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Iâve tried just about every rheumatoid arthritis exercise plan that I could find, but the best results Iâve ever gotten have been with Pilates.
Thereâs no doubt about it, if you want to see fast results and improve your range of motion while you reduce joint pain and swelling, you need to take a look at Pilates workouts.
What is Pilates?
What is Pilates?Pilates is a low-impact exercise program that incorporates cardio and resistance in order to increase strength and flexibility.
It doesnât require a bunch of fancy equipment or expensive classes, you can do it at home, and Pilates works even on days when your range of motion isnât what it should be.
In some ways, Pilates is like yoga or water aerobics.
It challenges your body in order to strengthen your muscles and joints without subjecting your body to the impact so many other workouts can, which can trigger an RA flare-up.
Unlike water aerobics or yoga, however, Pilates leads to much faster results, adds much more strength and flexibility.
You can actually find some great Pilates-based rheumatoid arthritis exercise programs available for free online, and easy-to-follow videos.
Pilates can also be done in a studio setting with an instructor and reformers.
A reformer is a piece of equipment that uses springs, pulleys, bars & straps to perform over 500 exercises in a variety of positions.
To use a reformer you would need to attend a Pilates class or take a 1-on-1 training session.
A big benefit of going into a Pilates class is that youâll be working with an instructor.
The instructor will be able to work with you and any restrictions you may have due to joint fusions or other issues that prevent you from performing certain exercises.
The instructor will also make sure your body is in the correct position as you work through each exercise, and help with modifications to ensure youâre getting the most out of the workout.
It really depends on the financial resources available to you, as classes typically range from $15 to $50 per session.
The main focus of Pilates is building strength through low impact, controlled movements done with or without resistance, which is why it’s a great rheumatoid arthritis exercise options for RA sufferers.
Pilates uses a lot of slow, smooth movements in contrast to many other forms of cardio and strength training.
Youâll never find yourself struggling under the weight of a barbell with Pilates, although sometimes you might feel your legs shake as you struggle to maintain a pose or flow through a movement.
If youâre going to give Pilates a shot, and in my opinion just about everyone with rheumatoid arthritis should try it, then Iâve put together a shortlist of tips and tricks in order to help you get started.
Most of these are common sense but feel free to use this as a checklist before you work out for the first time.
You can avoid a lot of next-day soreness if you follow all five tips.
5 Tips and Tricks for Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercise
Donât Forget to Stretch
You need to warm up even for low-impact exercise routines like Pilates.
Take your time and stretch all of your muscle groups, even the ones that you wonât be focusing on because a lot of stabilization muscles are needed in order to properly move smoothly through the workout.
Sometimes these muscles are nowhere near the muscle group that youâll be exercising, but you might be surprised how easy it is to pull one of them when you least expect it.
So stretch and warm up every time you plan to partake in your rheumatoid arthritis exercise routine.
Use a Foam Roller Before and After
In my opinion, a foam roller is a great tool to have no matter what type of exercise youâre doing.
If youâve never seen one before, it looks like a thicker version of a pool ânoodleâ toy, although itâs made of stiffer foam.
You can use it as a tool to give yourself massages, working any kinks out of your muscles, and help to reduce post-workout inflammation.
Foam rollers are also very relaxing, depending on how hard you work your muscles with one.
Make rolling out your arms, core, and legs part of your pre-workout warm-up and post-workout cool-down and it can really help reduce the amount of muscle pain and soreness that you have to deal with.
Reduce Pain and Stiffness with NSAIDs
Most of us are prescribed NSAIDs in order to reduce the pain and swelling that accompanies rheumatoid arthritis.
Before you begin a rheumatoid arthritis exercise routine, make sure that youâve had a chance to take your medicine.
Even if you arenât in pain, the NSAID will reduce any swelling in your joints and muscles during and immediately after exercise.
On my worst days, Iâve combined NSAIDs with topical creams in order to make sure that I donât experience a flare-up after a tough workout.
Usually though, just making sure that Iâve taken my medicine before I workout is plenty of protection against pain and stiffness.
Modify Your Movements
Sometimes a movement or transition is just too much, especially as youâre getting started.
Itâs better to take slow, shallow movements rather than try to rush through quickly and hurt yourself.
If you canât bend your knees entirely while youâre going into a squat, for instance, donât force the issue.
Do what you can without sharp pain, keep working your exercise routine, and youâll notice an improvement over time.
Stay Hydrated
One thing that everyone should do, whether theyâre working out or not, is to stay hydrated.
Drinking plenty of water helps your body replenish the natural lubrication in your joints, the stuff that makes cartilage so slippery.
Itâs a good idea to keep some water with you when you work out in general, but for RA sufferers itâs never optional.
Donât do your rheumatoid arthritis exercise workouts without having a bottle of water handy.
Itâs also a good idea to look for ways to incorporate more water into your daily routine as much as you can.
It just may mean a few extra trips to the bathroom, but your joints will thank you.
Working Out Your Whole Body Using Pilates
Regardless of the program, youâre following, the instructor you have, or the exercise video that youâre following along with, Pilates exercises can help you focus on just about every muscle in your body.
Below is a list of the major areas that Pilates works, along with a few examples of some common exercises and what areas of your body can benefit.
#1: Knees
A lot of people start to feel their rheumatoid arthritis in their knees before anywhere else.
Your knees are some of the biggest and most important joints in your body, and itâs only natural that RA would tend to attack them.
Pilates exercises like dips, squats, and lunges all work the knees, and they can help you restore range of motion and make it easier to walk, stand and sit down.
Donât neglect your knees during your Pilates workouts, there arenât too many other joints that we use anywhere near as frequently.
#2: Shoulders
Shrugs and arm circles are the most popular Pilates exercises for your shoulders, along with the clinically-named âscapula isolationsâ.
All of these exercises help to strengthen and tone your shoulders and upper arms, as well as your upper back and traps.
If you find yourself limited in how high you can raise your arm due to mobility issues, make sure you pick a program that helps you focus on shoulder exercises to help improve range of motion and flexibility.
#3: Elbows
Overhead stretches and wrist curls, along with the occasional set of pushups, are some of the elbow exercises that youâll see most frequently in Pilates.
In some cases, especially if you play or played a sport like tennis, rheumatoid arthritis will likely be especially bad in the elbows.
Pilates has a lot of options, some exercises with resistance and some without it, for giving your elbows a great workout and helping you focus on maintaining flexibility and strength in your arms.
#4: Back
There arenât too many other places on your body that can affect you like a sore, swollen, painful back and spine.
Fortunately, Pilates has a ton of low-impact exercises that focus on this region, and itâs one of the areas that people make progress on fastest.
Chest lifts, pelvis curls and the childâs pose, a kneeling posture with your arms outstretched, are all common Pilates exercises that work your back and strengthen your spine.
Creating a strong core is something youâll be working on with every Pilates workout.
It is one of the core values of Pilates, as so many exercises focus first on what you need to do with your core to stabilize before you begin any Pilates movement.
Take care to do your stretches on days when youâre working your back since itâs a large area with a lot of very strong, complex muscle groups.
#5: Hips
Nothing helps with chronic rheumatoid arthritis-induced hip pain like Pilates.
If you wake up with sore hips, or you have problems sitting or standing for long periods of time because of them, Pilates is a great way to improve the way your body is feeling.
Exercises like the straight leg raise, hip extensions, and bridging will help to relieve your pain and stiffness.
A lot of back exercises, especially the ones that work your lower back, also help to build up core strength which in turn will help your hips.
If you have limited mobility in your hips and swelling caused by RA, then Pilates might be just what you need.
#6: Feet & Ankles
Finally, we get to feet and ankles.
Itâs pretty common for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers to have bad ankles, and Pilates has a lot of different low-impact exercises that isolate and strengthen them.
For instance, thereâs the ankle roll, heel lifts, knee bends, and toe lifts to name just a few.
All of these exercises also help to work the muscles in your lower legs and strengthen your feet.
Cooling Down the Right Way
After youâre finished with your Pilates workout itâs important to have a nice, relaxing cool-down.
Cooling down will help with muscle soreness and stiffness the next day, and it really shouldnât be skipped unless youâre eager to spend a couple of hours in a hot bath.
Go through each area of your body that you worked on and slowly do a few easy stretching exercises.
When youâve worked your way through a bit of light stretching, you can try using the foam roll on your major muscle groups.
After a workout, your body may be tense, especially when youâre first getting back into exercise.
Take as long as you need to stretch and foam roll, itâs worth the time spent!
More Pilates Accessories For Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercise Routine
Over the course of this article, there have been a couple of different accessories mentioned, although the main focus has been on the exercises.
Hopefully, the fact that you donât need an expensive shopping list in order to get into Pilates will motivate more people to give it a try, but advanced users might want to pick a few things up in order to either increase the difficulty or make themselves more comfortable during your Pilates workout sessions.
The first product worth looking into is a Pilates mat or a yoga mat.
Especially if youâre feeling a rheumatoid arthritis flare-up coming on, being able to put a bit of padding between you and the ground is always nice.
1. Pilates Mat
RAPMâs Recommendation: Gaiam Essentials Thick Yoga Mat – Buy Now
While these mats are pretty affordable, they arenât strictly necessary, and a lot of other soft surfaces can be used.
Many exercises can even be done on a carpeted floor, just put down a towel first.
2. Resistance Loop Bands
RAPMâs Recommendation: MhIL 5 Resistance Bands Set – Buy Now
Resistance bands are another popular Pilates accessory, and they can really boost the level of difficulty.
Even when resistance bands are used, the goal of Pilates is the same: Slow, steady, carefully controlled movements are key.
The bands should be light enough to keep your form.
3. Foam Roller
RAPMâs Recommendation: 321 STRONG Foam Roller – Buy Now
The final accessory, and one that everyone should really look into, is a foam roller.
In fact, once you really get going on Pilates you might find yourself with more than one of them.
To begin with, find a roller that isnât too big, one that you can tuck under your knees and lay on your back without having your legs lifted uncomfortably.
A foam roller is perfect for warming up and cooling down, but it can also be used for more advanced balancing exercises.
4. Pilates Stick Total Body Workout Bar
RAPMâs Recommendation: Pilates Bar Kit – Buy Now
Ideal for common core exercises like stretching, weightlifting, lunges, and squats.
Made of three steel pipes that are covered with soft foam for a firm grip.
5. Pilates-Ring
RAPMâs Recommendation: MANTRA SPORTS Pilates Ring – Buy Now
Includes a color wall chart for instant access to the best-illustrated exercises to help improve agility, flexibility, and posture.
Has dual padded, non-slip handles to reduce lower back pain.
Can be taken anywhere and used at any time.
6. Pilates Books and DVDs
RAPMâs Recommendations:
The Pilates Body – Buy Now
Includes step-by-step instructions that guide the readers through a complete circuit of mat exercises.
Help strengthen and condition muscles to improve posture, flexibility, and balance.
Pilates for Beginners and Beyond DVD Set – Buy Now
Pilates for Inflexible People.
Contains more than 50 easy-to-follow routines.
Pilates: Body in Motion – Buy Now
A step-by-step book for mat-based Pilates.
Clearly explains every exercise sequence with at-a-glance overviews, provides detailed step-by-step photographs, and a checklist of dos and don’ts.
7. Reformer
RAPMâs Recommendation: Supreme Toning Tower – Buy Now
A combination of Pilates Cadillac Trap Table, Barre, and body trainer for home use.
Foldable for easy storage.
8. Dumbbell Hand Weights
RAPMâs Recommendation: Neoprene Coated Dumbbell – Buy Now
Features a set of 6 cast iron dumbbells in three weight categories including a storage stand.
Neoprene-coated to provide durability, safety, and a non-slip grip.
Has a hexagonal shape that prevents dumbbells from slipping or rolling away.
Relieve Pain and Increase Range of Motion with Pilates
If youâve managed to make it all the way to the end, then you should have a pretty good idea of what Pilates can do for the average rheumatoid arthritis sufferer.
In contrast to other exercise programs, with heavy weights and painful movements, Pilates is a low-impact way to build stamina, core strength, improve mobility and, eventually, increase your quality of life.
You can get started today, for free, with resources available online.
In a month, after youâre standing without pain and you donât wake up with your hips aching, youâll be glad you did.
Read more articles:
- Pros and Cons of Yoga For Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Low Impact RA Exercises: Pool Workouts To Ease Joint Pain
- Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis Naturally Through Diet & Exercise
- 7 Important Hand Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
