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Exercise and Arthritis                   

Exercise is a beneficial and safe way for individuals with Arthritis to manage symptoms, improve overall health, and enhance quality of life. While arthritis affects people differently, regular physical activity, tailored to individual abilities and preferences, can lead to improved mood, mobility, and muscle strength. 

Here are some of the best exercises to help:

Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise

  • Walking – gentle on joints, easy to adjust intensity
  • Swimming/water aerobics – water buoyancy reduces joint stress significantly
  • Cycling (stationary or outdoor) – smooth motion with minimal joint impact

Strength Training

  • Light resistance exercises help support and stabilise joints by strengthening surrounding muscles
  • Resistance bands are especially joint-friendly
  • Focus on slow, controlled movements

Flexibility & Range-of-Motion Exercises

  • Stretching – helps maintain joint mobility and reduce stiffness
  • Yoga – improves flexibility, balance, and can reduce pain (chair yoga is great for limited mobility)
  • Tai Chi – gentle, flowing movements shown to reduce arthritis pain and improve balance

Key Principles to Follow

  • Start slow and gradually increase duration/intensity
  • Exercise during times of day when stiffness is lowest (often mid-morning)
  • Avoid high-impact activities like running or jumping, which stress joints
  • Stop if an exercise causes sharp pain (mild discomfort is normal)
  • Warm up before and cool down after every session

Most Recommended: Swimming and water-based exercise are widely considered the gold standard for Arthritis, as the water supports body weight while allowing a full range of motion.

It’s always a good idea to consult a doctor or physiotherapist before starting a new exercise program, as the best routine can vary depending on the type of arthritis (e.g., osteoarthritis v rheumatoid arthritis) and which joints are affected.

We at Wenman’s work closely with arthritis sufferers to enable sufferers remain as active as possible for as long as possible.

  • We have connected up with a qualified Physiotherapist who will meet people at our premises to have a personal one to one and help develop a tailored exercise regime.
  • We have qualified team of Trusted Assessors who come to your home and provide a free report on what equipment will help you remain active and safe

(see https://wenmanhealthcare.co.uk/home-assessments/ )

To view our selected range of products available for Arthritis, please click here.

Please do call our friendly knowledgeable team on 01926624432 or visit our web site www.wenmanhealthcare.co.uk for further help and information, including equipment that may assist sufferers, see the health conditions section in our web site health hub.