Wednesday, August 6, 2014

8 Steps to Staying Active With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Or if tennis is your game, play doubles instead of singles, so there's less movement throughout the court. Or play 9 holes of golf instead of 18.

For more ideas, check out the Arthritis Foundation ^[1], which offers a personal movement tracker, calendar of local walking events, tips for staying active, and stories from other outdoorsy types with rheumatoid arthritis.

3. Gear up.
Upgrade your footwear. Buy sneakers in a specialty store or from a podiatrist, so you can be fitted for supportive shoes or special supportive inserts called orthotics, suggests Dr. White.

You can also ask your doctor about short-term use of braces, sleeves and tape to support joints.

If you play a sport involving hands or feet, like golf, you can buy gel inserts that slip into gloves or shoes and warm the muscles, making it more comfortable to play, says Dr. Soloway.

4. Start slowly.
Don't try to do too much, too soon.

"Some of my patients start by walking to the mailbox, and that's a huge victory," Dr. Galland says.