Practical Morning Tips for Rheumatoid Arthritis Part 1
September 29th, 2015 - Posted in Arthritis, Exercise, Health
Practical Morning Tips for RA- Part 1
Start With Your Hips
Get your joints moving and warmed up beforeyou get out of bed. Loosen your hips with this quick range-of-motion exercise. Lie on your back and roll your legs in until your knees face each other. Then roll your legs out. Repeat five times.
Loosen Your Shoulders
Wake up your upper body. Lie on your back with your arms at your sides. Lift one arm until your fingers point at the ceiling. Lower the arm to your side and raise your other arm. Repeat five times
Tap Into the Power of Music
Put on your favorite tunes. People with arthritis and other types of long-lasting pain who listen to music for an hour a day say they hurt less and have less disability. Doctors think it may cause the brain to release natural painkillers. The type of music doesn’t matter. So crank up the country, or rock out to your heart’s content.
Get Stronger
Strength training helps your muscles support your joints. It can include lifting weights or using your own body weight for resistance. A morning workout helps you burn more fat throughout the day. If you’ve never lifted weights before, check with your doctor first. It’s also a good idea to talk to a trainer or physical therapist about how to do each move.
Stretch in the Shower
Take a long, warm shower every morning. To ease stiffness even more, do some simple stretches while the water warms your muscles and joints. Shrug your shoulders, roll your neck, and circle your wrists. If it’s hard to balance, use a shower chair and stretch while seated.
Be well.