Walks and Walking: In some cases, such as arthritis, walking can help reduce pain. 

Family Site Since 1997

Walks and Walking

Benefits of Walking: Pain Reduction
The Walking Web

By DH Owens

Walking: Even when walking is painful, if you start slowly and gradually add distance, your pain will probably lessen as your joints become more flexible. 

More information about walking and walks for fitness: 

You stand; you're stiff; you hurt; you put off walking another day. 

Why?

Walking can certainly help reduce the pain and stiffness for most of us, even for most osteoarthritis sufferers. 

Osteoarthritis is said to occur when the cartilage around a joint wears away. Although it is probably oversimplified to consider osteoarthritis a process of wear and tear on joints, it is true that weight-bearing joints and those which are under repetitive stress over periods of time are more prone to it. It is probably safe to say that everyone is predicted to develop some degree of osteoarthritis at some stage in their  lifetime.

There is some evidence, though, that moving constantly will keep you moving throughout your life. And walking is a good way to start and to keep moving.

With regular walking, you should find the muscles around the joint becoming stronger and stabilized. This reduces the movement of the joint and can even halt the progression of the osteoarthritis.

If you have arthritis in your knees or in your hips, you may find that walking becomes more and more difficult and painful. People who have these conditions may then become more and more sedentary. This usually leads to weight gain, which increases stress on the hips and knees, further damaging the joint. This leads to additional arthritis and other health problems. It sounds like a viscous circle and it is unless you can find a way to break it and the pain. That is where walking can help.

Many people who have arthritis believe that exercising their joints increase damage to cartilage and bone. But rest and inactivity are often the worst things you can do for arthritis. 

Walking for fitness:

Certainly start by checking with your doctor before starting a walking regime. But when your doctor gives you the OK to start, you may find that walking is difficult. Start slowly and proceed with caution. You will be pleasantly surprised because, as your joints become more flexible, your distances can increase.

And you will walk some, if not all, of that pain away.

Additional information about walks and walking.

SOLO for Singles | Singles Profiles | Shopping Place | CyberParent | | DFW eMAG | Local Singles Webs |  Heart Express