With Waltz and Water Gymnastics against Rheumatism

01.08.2006

Rheumatoid arthritis is so painful that those affected persons avoid any unnecessary movement. However, the joints need sufficient movement in order not to become stiff. And doing so, patients do not have to accomplish sporty top performances.

Dancing as an ideal training

Who hardly comes up the stairs because of rheumatic pain, won't like the thought of regular sport. But there are numerous possibilities for older and less skilled people to improve their mobility and to relieve the pain. An ideal sport is dancing. Waltz or fox trot directs the concentration to the music and pain is felt less.

It is also easier to get a straight posture and move around unconstrained. Besides, dancing strengthens the musculature and affects heart and circulation positively.

"Riding a bike in the lowlands, doing water gymnastics, backstroke, walking or far Eastern sports like Tai Chi - all these sports are suitable to move around with a good effect on the joints. The joints should not be overloaded and it is great fun", according to Erhard Hackler, board of directors of the federal federation for health information and consumer protection in Bonn, Germany. Specific, but sparing weight training is also very popular.

Don't start ad hoc

Nevertheless, before starting the rheumatic movement program patients should speak to a doctor. Measures of the physiotherapist like physiotherapy, massage, warm therapy or cryotherapy must be combined in the program. Skilled instructions are needed when deciding for yoga or Tai Chi. Basically the patients should listen to their body and not demand too much of themselves.

In special sports groups patients with rheumatics can motivate each other. However, sports are taboo when an acute rheumatic push occurs.

Without movement the joint cartilage diminishes

Light and regular physical exercises let muscles grow which support the skeleton. Thus patients burden their bone less, avoid a wrong posture and feel less pain. Thanks to the joint cartilages which are located between the joints and prevent the bones rubbing on each other. The so-called synovial fluid protects the cartilage from abrasion because it provides the protective layer with essential substances and it rinses it from waste products. But this all does only work when the joints are being moved: only that way the synovial fluid gets from its original location to the cartilage.

REHACARE.de; Source: Bundesverband für Gesundheitsinformation und Verbraucherschutz (Federal federation for health information and consumer protection)