What exercises are best for arthritic feet

[katieoxo60]

I recently started a supervised Gym course for maintaining good lung function, however have suffered a flare up of arthritis. Does anyone know if there are certain exercises that might not be good for arthritic feet? Or do I just need to modify the amount?

[teddybear12]

Hi Katie

Don't even try to second guess what is best to adjust or remove in your programme speak with the personal trainers in the gym they are trained to guide & design a programme that covers all your needs & medical issues.

[katieoxo60 in reply to teddybear12]

Thanks for that but have to say my foot arthritis is worse and not sure which exercise is making it so or if it is just normal deterioration or something else causing it, my Gp will just say take more pain killers. I've tried cream, ankle support, extra pain relief(which helps a little) and massage but the joint pain continues and gets worse with walking and exercise

[teddybear12 in reply to katieoxo60]

Trust me you have my complete sympathy I have osteoarthritis of my hip I'm in constant pain mobility getting worse but I go to the gym & have a programme that is designed around my condition so I assure you it is possible to go to the gym but you are going to have to be prepared to work with the personal trainers & your Dr.

[katieoxo60 in reply to teddybear12]

I am going to the Gym but the trainer is saying I'm doing OK. The exercises were only supposed to be for my breathing not my arthritis so things got a little confused and I'm the one left in more pain than usual. How often do you do the gym? The trainer has left the exercises the same for now as it does take time for the body to adjust but I just wondered if anyone had found specific exercises that were good or bad for arthritis in the walking joints. Thanks for your help and advice anyway.

[johnsmith]

Arthritic feet can mean a multitude of things. You do not say how old you are so it is not easy to give advice. If you are in the late 50s it would be sensible to drop the supervised Gym course. Many supervised gym courses are designed for people in their thirties who have reasonable muscular coordination. As you get into your 50s and older the coordination is not as good and you need to switch to exercises that help maintain coordination.

These exercises would be designed to unlock muscle microcramps and get the proprioceptors to function well again. Without well functioning propioceptors vigorous exercise will damage you.

Good lung function is dependant on good muscular coordination. Not on vigorousness exercise.

Hope this helps

[katieoxo60 in reply to johnsmith]

Well johnsmith thanks for your reply, afraid I am over 65 but I understand what you are saying. The breathing muscles seem to be working OK, and heart to spite a thickened muscle. It's the joints and limb muscles that seem to have lost there capacity well guess I'll have to do more sedentary type exercise to suit my health and age capability.

[johnsmith in reply to katieoxo60]

Yoga under a good teacher is worth trying. Some of the Hindu temples run or know of free yoga classes. If you are unable to sit on the floor they will allow you to do the exercises sitting on a chair.

It is important to tackle the exercises without strain. It is a big temptation to try to do too much too fast. The important thing is you are doing the exercises to help with moving rather than doing the exercises to be fighting fit.

I wish I could explain more, but I am hindered by the limitation of written language.

[katieoxo60 in reply to johnsmith]

Thanks sounds a good idea to me

[rowantree]

If you're going to the gym to help with breathing, I assume you have COPD or something similar? If so it is essential that you do something that will make you slightly breathless to keep your lung capacity up, and slow down the degeneration. Can you do the rowing machine or does that hurt your feet too? Other static exercises that make you slightly breathless, and swimming?

[katieoxo60 in reply to rowantree]

Yes I do have COPD too, rowing machine is a no no as I am waiting for an abdominal hernia repair and the rowing could make it worse or cause more pain, so do not know if it would make my feet worse for now. Swimming would be marvellous as I used to swim and it is less demanding on the joints but need a companion due to the risks when on wet floors and poor hand grip, not trying to put obstacles in the way but these problems are a fact of life. Thanks for your supportive suggestions Rowantree.