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Guest Post - "Arthritis and the Many Health Benefits of Swimming for This Condition"
Today we are featuring a guest post on Healthy Living Natural Beauty. Our guest author today is Jane Chitty. She has kindly written us an informative article about the benefits of swimming on Arthritis. Her biography follows the article and she has provided the pictures for both her biography and the article. If you have Arthritis or know someone who does, this article will be very helpful. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments at the end of the article.
Arthritis and the Many Health Benefits of Swimming for This Condition It is a sad fact of modern life that arthritis has become a growing problem with an estimated figure of 10% of the adult US population presently suffering from this condition. Arthritis goes hand in hand with being overweight or obese while a sedentary lifestyle with little or no exercise adds to the complication of both arthritis and obesity. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two main types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease when the soft cartilage, that cushions the joints, breaks down causing the bones to start to rub against one another. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the synovial membrane (that is the lining that surrounds and protects the entire joint) becomes swollen and inflamed leading to deterioration of both cartilage and bone.
Apart from changing your lifestyle, and especially a diet that is high in processed foods and beverages that lead to inflammation and weight gain, including swimming in a regular exercise regime will give you a win/win situation. When you are submerged in water, your body automatically becomes lighter. The more water covering you, the less weight you have to bear. With water all the way to the neck, 90% of your weight is handled by the pool while you only have 10% to worry about. This means that being in water is the ideal place to exercise those stiff muscles and sore joints – particularly if you suffer from arthritis and are overweight. While in hot weather, an outdoor pool can become pleasantly warm, a heated all weather indoor pool is ideal for the arthritis sufferer as the warmer the water, the more the joints can loosen up. It has been found that those with arthritis receive greater health benefits from participating in hydrotherapy, swimming or just gently exercising in water than any other activities. Water-based exercise improves the use of those affected joints and decreases pain whether the person is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis because swimming puts the body through a broad range of motion that helps joints and ligaments stay loose and flexible. Swimming means that the arms move in wide arcs, the hips are engaged as the legs scissor through the water, and the head and spine twist from side to side. In addition, with every stroke, as you reach forward, you lengthen the body making it more efficient in the water but also giving you an excellent stretch from head to toe. Extra flexibility can be gained by holding on to the side of the pool and gently stretching with the support of the water helping you maintain your balance for longer periods of time. Even if swimming laps is not possible, there are plenty of other good swimming exercises. Try walking or running in water, which many people find easier to do than on land. In addition, swimming is a relaxing and peaceful form of exercise, helping to alleviate stress. You can let your mind wander, focusing on nothing but the rhythm of your stroke, helping you gain a feeling of well-being so that you leave the water refreshed and ready to go on with the rest of your day. Swimming is so relaxing because it allows more oxygen to flow to your muscles and forces you to regulate your breathing. A pleasant side effect is the release of feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. Swimming is now recognized as one of the biggest calorie burners around, and it's great for keeping weight under control which is so important when arthritis affects you.
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