Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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water therapy

hurleymn
hurleymn
Does anyone use a hot tub or an endless pool for exercise? I'm trying to decide if a hot tub or a pool of some sort would be a better investment to ease the pain, and also allow for some more exercise. I know I should exercise, but it's really hard to do when you hurt just sitting at a desk all day.

Either item will be a big investment, and I want to get the most value so am hoping someone has some experience with these products.

Thanks for your help.

Jane
deleted_user
deleted_user
Definitely if you can do the pool, do the pool! Exercise is super important! Besides that, the chemicals in pools or hot tubs can be toxic, especially for us. So you'll need to look into other options like salt water pools! Good luck!
-Sarah
deleted_user
deleted_user
yes! get a pool or hot tub! so nice to get the weight and stress off your joints while in there.
ThisToo
ThisToo
Yes I do.....we have a great place nearby which is a non profit and anyway they keep it hot for arthritis sufferers......actually IMO, it is too hot a lot of the time.
(it's one thing to soak in hot water , which feels good, but....to try and exercise or swim in hot water is very exhausting)

I had stopped going a few years ago, b/c of my issue with the heat. I live in Southern Calif, so it's always hot already. The Arthritis Foundation in fact, recommends a temperature range for this purpose and while I may not recall the range perfectly, I believe it is between 81-88 degrees ; somewhere in there.
My pool I go to , is between 91-98....nice in the 'winter'.
anyway I would recommend you try it out somewhere before spending money......then you'll know.
I think you can find places at the "Y" ...YMCA.
Also you might want to call up local hospitals and ask if they have water therapy available...
perhaps, the Arthritis Foundation may have some ideas, of
where /how to find a pool warm enough for you.

my advice, also if you do this, don't do what I did when I first started, which was to say, I over did it.
it felt so good and harmless and comforting, that I tended to try to make up for all the exercise I could not do, on land.

It backfired on me, and my former arhritis doc told me, to alternate days , of any exercise I did. Not do it 2 days in a row.
ThisToo
ThisToo
I guess I should clarify that after not going for a few years, my pain got way out of control and I am now, going again. And this time 'round, trying to seek out that balance of how much is the right amount for me, to swim/ exercise.

my fav thing is using a floatation device in deep water, so I can "jog" or other aerobic things, alternated with what swimming I can do.
I take a lot of breaks, too.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have a hot tub and we started building a pool last October that isn't yet finished. (Long story and I won't bore you), I have used the hot tub many a morning to warm up my joints so I can get moving if I am having one of those really stiff times. Praying for the chance to one day get to use the pool and do some real exercise.