Hi there,

Congratulations on starting to change your eating habits around! Healthy eating can make a big difference to your energy levels and how you feel, especially whilst going through the changes associated with menopause.

With regard to your fitness, generally the best type of programme for your arthritis would be one that encourages activities that reduce the stress on your knees and provides stability to these joints.

Swimming (which you are already doing) and cycling are excellent choices. Also a reduction in your walking may help in reducing the painful inflammation in your knees. Both these activities performed regularly and consistently will help to make you fitter, healthier and stronger, especially in the muscles around your knees.

To assist in strengthening your muscles you could also try a Resistance Training Programme designed by a properly certified and experienced Personal Trainer. This type of training is especially important for females as you pass through menopause and enter your 50's, as your bodies muscle mass begins to decline markedly each decade. Resistance training helps to maintain your body's lean muscle mass and keeps your bones strong whilst helping you to stay lean. Resistance Training will also help stabilize your arthritic knees by strengthening the muscles around them.

An important feature in any exercise programme for people who suffer from arthritis is to include a gentle and extended warm-up and cool-down period before and after their exercise sessions. The extended warm-up is especially crucial as it provides a gradual warming of the body and lessens the chance of injury to the affected joints.

A good rule of thumb here is to spend around 10% of your exercise time warming up and 10% cooling down.

Best of luck

Article provided by Darryl Barrett

Gloss Personal Trainer
Email  Darryl Barrett:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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