Caught In The Catch-22 Of Joint Pain And Weight Gain? What Are Your Options?

Suffering from pain in your hips, knees, ankles, or lower back can leave you without the desire (or even ability) to do much exercise beyond walking. However, a lack of exercise can exacerbate weight gain, putting your sore joints through even more strain as they are tasked with the duty of carrying extra weight. What can you do to increase your exercise and reduce your weight without increasing your joint pain and pressure? Read on to learn more about some low-impact exercises that can help you lose weight, as well as some of the clinical options that can make you more mobile. 

What exercises should have the least impact on your joints?

Two of the most effective low-impact exercises are bicycling and swimming. While bicycling may not be right for everyone due to the angle at which you're required to bend your knees, it can be a worthwhile exercise for those with hip or lower back issues that prevent high-impact activities like jogging or basketball. You may want to toy around with the angle and resistance of your recumbent bicycle to increase the number of calories burned with your workout or try interval training (in which you spend short intervals at high speed and resistance and then follow with a cooling-off period before ramping up the resistance again).

And whether you perform water aerobics, swim laps, or just spend some time splashing in the water, you'll be able to gain strength and endurance in a nearly weightless environment. Swimming can burn a high number of calories per hour, and the therapeutic environment of the water can allow you to exercise far longer than you'd otherwise be able to. In order to gain a full-body workout, you'll want to perform both strokes and kicks to strengthen these muscles. 

Are there any clinical options that can make it easier to exercise without pain?

Often, the right equipment can make all the difference in pain-free versus painful exercise. You may want to utilize an orthopedic brace or another type of supportive brace that can hold your joints in place during exercise -- your orthopedist should be able to recommend the most appropriate options. You may also want to pay for a few sessions with a physical therapist or personal trainer who specializes in clients with joint issues and can ensure that you're performing exercises in the proper position and at the proper speed.

For more information contact a provider like Northern Care Inc Prosthetics & Orthotics.

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