Here's another reason for getting in the pool. The evidence is in. Water exercise can stop or even reverse the arthritis disease process. Because aquatic exercise enables people to move their joints and get a good workout with a minimum of pain, they can maintain their muscles, keep their joints flexible and mentally enjoy a positive feeling about themselves—even while suffering from severe arthritis. All these things help to reduce the negative effects of arthritis, which seem to compound when people stop exercising. 

Many people do stop exercising when their arthritic joints cause them so much discomfort. But medical advice today suggests that stopping exercise can be the worst thing for arthritis.

The catch 22 of "arthritis = pain = desire to not exercise = worsened arthritis" doesn't need to happen. All it requires is getting out your swimming suit and getting into the pool.

Most people talk about aquatic classes for those in advanced years. Swimming itself can also serve as a preventive measure before arthritis has a chance to develop.

Swimming, unlike most exercise, tends to so overload the senses that attention is distracted from a variety of discomforting small aches and pains. The sensation of touch is literally overwhelmed when jumping into a pool, and it's very pleasant when the pool is pleasantly warm.

As a person who has been intensely swimming on a daily basis for the last 15 years, I can attest to the enormous benefits of aquatic exercise. Rarely do I feel even the slightest hint of joint pain, and I can clearly speak to the clarity of mind that comes after swimming a mile and a half.

One word of caution. For those of you who might take up swimming in your adult life. It takes awhile to learn how to swim. Very few exercise programs require as much learning as swimming requires. But don't give up, because once you master the crawl stroke and feel comfortable putting your face in water, you have definitely disproved the old adage that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Janelle Barlow, Author
The Stress Manager
 
 
 
 

Previous "Stress Management Corner" pages:
 

#1	New Approaches to Job Stress
#2	If Exercise Works as a Cure...
#3	Headaches! The Most Common Complaint
#4	Eight Glasses a Day!
#5	How Well Does Zinc Work?
#6	Intense Emotions Can Kill You
#7	Sleep!
#8	Job Stress and Compensation Claims
#9	Job-Related Stress
#10	Losing Weight - It's Not Easy!
#11	Food Supplements - How Necessary?
#12	Stress and Change
#13	Depression Among the Elderly
#14	Spirituality and Your Health
#15	It's Cold Season Again!
#16	A Positive Attitude is Important
#17	Power of Laughter
#18	More Laughter and Stress Management
#19	Go for a Massage!
#20	Aspirin: That Little White Pill
#21	Aging and Self-Conception
#22	Worker Stress Increasing
#23	Back Pain
#24	Kava: The Natural Cure for Anxiety
#25	Oxidative Stress Theory
#26	Yet Another Cause of Fatigue
#27	Can Too Much Iron Be Bad for You?
#28	Tea: A Magical Potion?
#29	Sleep, Social Attitudes & Individual Needs
#30	Proof: Walking Reduces Heart Disease
#31	Anger and Heart Attacks
#32	Impact of Relaxation on Cancer
#33	The Elderly and Social Support
#34	Women and Stress
#35	The Stress That Accompanies Success
#36	Childhood Events and Adult Reactions
#37	Your Tongue Isn't Always the Best Judge

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