Rheumatoid Arthritis, Leflunomide and Swimming
Rheumatoid arthritis limited my abilities to exercise and made me feel like a cripple. I could only take short walks and do some simple aerobics for quite a long period but that was not enough for me to keep fit. More active exercises made my joints swell and hurt afterwards. As a result, I was losing muscle weight and gaining fat. The idea of swimming was a blessing. I studied the subject and found that:
- Water exercise is a really gentle way to exercise joints and maintain muscle strength.
- Warmth and buoyancy of warm water create a safe, ideal environment for relieving arthritis pain and treating stiffness.
- Immersing in warm water raises body temperature, dilates blood vessels and improves blood circulation.
- Water allows free movement because it supports joints
- Using spa with massage adds beneficial component to the therapy: they improve blood circulation and relax muscles.
I’ve been going to the swimming pools local water fitness classes for 1 month now and I feel stronger and have more energy. I keep taking leflunomide and looks like my joints condition is not worsening. That is good news!