Tag: Cardiovascular Fitness

No Pain, No Gain Isn’t True of Arthritis, But Exercise

No Pain, No Gain Isn’t True of Arthritis, But Exercise Is Still Important
David Silva

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesRecent studies have shown that exercise may acually help people with arthritis in a number of ways. It can reduce joint pain and stiffness. It can increase flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance. And it can also help with weight reduction and contribute to an improved sense of well-being.Most comprehensive arthritis treatment plans should include an exercise regiment. Rest and relaxation, proper diet, medication, and instruction about proper use of joints and ways to conserve energy (that is, not to waste motion), as well as the use of pain relief methods should also be included in treatment plans.What types of exercises are best for people with arthritis? Try these three:Range-of-motion exercises to help maintain normal joint movement, relieve stiffness, and increase flexibility.Strengthening exercises to help keep or increase muscle strength. Strong muscles help support and protect joints affected by arthritis.Aerobic or endurance exercises to improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall function. Weight control can be important to people who have arthritis because extra weight puts extra pressure on joints. As always, people with arthritis should discuss their options with their doctors before starting on an exercise program. Easy, range-of-motion exercises and low-impact aerobics are gennerally a good way to get started. And make sure to ask your doctor about any sports or exercise programs in which you currently participate. Some programs may do more harm than good.You should also be aware that your doctor may decide to refer you to a physical therapist. A therapist with experience in arthritis can design an appropriate home exercise program and teach you about pain-relief methods, proper body mechanics, joint protection, and conserving energy.So what’s the best way to get going? First, always first, discuss your exercise plans with your doctor.Next, start with supervision from a physical therapist or a qualified athletic trainer.Apply heat to sore joints.Stretch and warm up with range-of-motion exercises.Start strengthening exercises slowly with small weights (a 1 or 2 pound weight can make a big difference).Progress slowly.Use cold packs after exercising.Add aerobic exercise.Ease off if joints become painful, inflamed, or red and work with your doctor to find the cause and eliminate it.Like any exercise program, choose a program you enjoy and make it a habit.Range-of-motion exercises should be done at least every other day. Strengthening exercises also should be done at least every other day unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints. Endurance exercises should be done for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints.Additional information on arthritis and exercise can be found at the following resources:Arthritis FoundationThe Foundation publishes a free pamphlet on exercise and arthritis and a monthly magazine for members that provides up-to-date information on all forms of arthritis. http://www.arthritis.orgAbout Arthritis TodayInformation on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of arthritis.http://www.aboutarthritistoday.com/arthritisexercise/Spondylitis Association of America (SAA)SAA sells books, posters, videotapes, and audiotapes about exercises for people who have arthritis of the spine.http://www.spondylitis.orgAmerican College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health ProfessionalsThis association provides referrals to physical therapists who have experience designing exercise programs for people with arthritis. The organization also provides exercise guidelines developed by the American College of Rheumatology.http://www.rheumatology.org About the Author
About Arthritis Todayhttp://aboutarthritistoday.com

Why Use Heart Rate Monitor

If you are still thinking of getting a heart rate monitor, the following reasons might make you decide. Here are some of the reasons why people should use heart rate monitor:

Fitness monitor: When people train, they need result and that result in one and only one thing: cardiovascular fitness. Since this is the single most important part of every training, having the right tool to monitor the cardiovascular fitness is very important. The heart rate monitor lets the user to know if the intensity of the training is too much or just right.

Accuracy: If you are using your fingers to know what is your current heart rate, you are probably having a difficult time determining your precise heart rate. With the heart rate monitor, you can determine your current heart rate more effectively plus the ease of eliminating the hassle of counting your heart rate with your fingers against time.

Training Efficiency: For people who take training seriously, making the most out of every minute of training is very important. Everyday many trainers, athletes, and health conscious hit their daily training routine. But most of them are not conscious about the right intensity of the training that sometimes they tend to over-train. This increases the risk of injury plus the given fact that they are not getting the right result equivalent to the effort they exert. With the heart rate monitor, the intensity of training is regulated to get the best exercise or training possible with the least amount of effort.

If there is over-training, there should be under-training. Like the former, the latter usually happens, as the right amount of intensity can never be accurately monitored. The heart rate monitor will eliminate such problem at the device will enable the user to determine if he achieves the desired level of training intensity.

Pacing during the competition: When you are on the race trying to beat all other contenders, you also have to know when to step on your gas or when to slow down. Without the heart rate monitor, this is not possible. Heart rate monitor will let you know if your pacing is right for your body. Runners are prevented from going too fast or going to slow with the help of the heart rate monitor.

Satisfaction: If running may be a little bit boring to you, the use of heart rate monitor will give you more reasons to keep on running. The excitement it provides with all the details and the data it shows will guarantee you that you will get more and more miles behind you.

5 Advantages of Wristwatch Heart Rate Monitor

Heart rate monitor has been around for quite some time but during its early years, it does not create much impact in terms of popularity and functionality. Not until technology backed up the device. Today, heart rate monitor is more popular than ever. And its patrons are from people who want to be more precise in monitoring their heart rate for more efficient training, to people who simply want to enjoy the functions of the device.

Here are 5 advantages of wristwatch heart rate monitor.

1. Accuracy. When you use wristwatch heart rate monitor, it is no question that the data you would get are accurate. This would also eliminate the old problem of heart rate reading while moving. The wristwatch heart rate monitor would not require you to stop and check your heart rate that often disrupts the should be continuous workout and consistency of heart rate.

2. Fitness monitoring. When you need a cardiovascular fitness, there is one part of the body you should monitor: the heart. And with the data a wristwatch heart rate monitor can give, you can now know the activity of your heart which would make you more conscious about how to train. With the wristwatch heart rate monitor, you can now know if you are training too hard and need to slow down or if you are training too weak and you need to pick up your pace.

3. Portability. Wristwatch heart rate monitor is small and compact, thus it would eliminate the need for big space. And with its size, you can have the convenience of treating it more as an accessory than an exercise tool.

4. Mobility. A wristwatch heart rate monitor would only have to be worn on the wrist without interfering with the exercise. It is light, compact, and stylish which would make it more wearable. Wearing a wristwatch heart rate monitor would still give you the freedom to move in ways you want to.

5. Training convenience. Manual heart rate checking would require you to stop either in the middle or at the end of your run. Either way, you still have to stop. And by doing so, you would interfere on your whole run that would destroy your pace. With wristwatch heart rate monitor, there is no need to stop just to check your heart rate. You can know your heart rate instantly without using your fingers.