New here - Introduction

[Dancer3322]

Hi, I've joined this because I am working to find the right combination of stretching and strengthening to allow me to be able to do activities I enjoy such as dancing or sports, or even walking with minimal pain. I will be working to figure out how this site works.

[Happyrosie]

hello Dancer. I live in the UK but my comments are, even so, relevant to you on the other side of the Atlantic.

My consultant rheumatologist referred me to the website of Versus Arthritis. Lots of info there.

My physiotherapist gave me exercises based specifically for the joints which hurt me most, but stressed (as did the rheumy) that you should do exercises that you enjoy as you will keep them up. He mentioned swimming specifically as it’s non-weight bearing.

[Dancer3322 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you, I will check out that website. I’ve been going through all of my emails to clean it out, and I found one from two years ago that my physical therapist had sent with exercises for me.

[kohai OA Ambassador in reply to Happyrosie]

I.agree with happyrosie on the swimming.. While I have OA in every joint and areas of my spine, when my local hospital physio department said there was literally nothing else they could do for me that wouldn't cause more damage, they did suggest the hydrotherapy pool they have. It is within minutes of the physio department itself and isn't very big... after all, they only have small groups of referred patients using it. Unlike a public swimming pool, the hydropool is very warm in temperature both the room and the water. From one end of the pool to the other its all the same depth. The physio leads the exercises done with each group and as he/she knows everyones conditions, knows which types of exercise to do. For physiotherapy to have their own pool, it shows how much they believe on its health benefits.

If you use a public swimming pool, my only advice/words of caution would be to find out if they have specific rimes when its only women or only men allowed. Lanes are then put up, those times and the people who turn up generally turn up for health reasons. My mum was advised ro go years ago for exercise on her frozen shoulder but didn't want to go alone. Even though ahe as and i stayed at the edge, within five minutes i'd been hit in the chin from some kid popping up from under the water hitting his head on my chin then kicked in both the shoulder and chest as younger people kicked their legs out to swim off. I came out the pool feeling all sore and bruised. So it may be worth checking not just pool opening times, but if there are specific times only certain people can use the pool for a few hours.