Workouts That Are Easy on the Joints

As we age, many people often complain of joint pain more and more and while exercise can sometimes be the best thing to prevent and/or make joint pain better, often times people avoid it all together. By avoiding movement, your joint pain can get worse and make your life even more limited as to what you are able to do. If you have joint pain, exercise is still great and there are forms of exercise that are easy on the joints, but still make you stronger and keep you in great shape. 

• Yoga
• Yoga is a slow, strength-building workout that is appropriate for anyone. There are a lot of different styles of yoga, so that wherever you are in your fitness journey, you can find a class for you. 
• Rowing
• Whether on a machine or in the water, rowing is a great cardiovascular exercise without putting a lot of pressure on the joints. By keeping a string, engaged core, you are supporting your lower back, while still getting a great workout. 
• Pilates
• An exercise that is done almost completely on the floor, your joints won't feel any pressure from these exercises.  The Pilates exercises will help you form long, lean muscles and a strong core that will help support all of your muscles for a long time to come. 
• Tai Chi
• Tai chi is a slow flowing martial arts type of exercise and is sometimes known as "meditation in motion" as it has multiple mental health benefits. Tai chi is known for lowering blood pressure, improving flexibility and improving endurance and stamina.
• Swimming
• Any type of exercise done in the water is amazing for your joints. If you have access to a pool year round, this is the perfect exercise to do regularly.
• Bike Riding
• Biking is a great way to get moving without pounding on your feet and joints. As long as you are fitted to your bike and have the right alignment on the seat, biking is a great form of exercise for those with joint pain.
• Nature Walks
• Find a trail with  dirt or grass to go for walks on. This will not only be good for your joints, but is a good way to get fresh air and relieve any stress in your life.