Do you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? Are you used to be active but now your symptoms are keeping you on the sidelines? By talking with your doctor and playing it smart, you can stay active with RA. In fact, being active can do your body good. Your joints will be less likely to stiffen and cause you pain. Plus, physical activity can help you improve your mental focus and outlook, so you’ll feel better about yourself.
Here are a few suggestions to follow to help you stay active with RA:
- Talk with your doctor about your physical activity goals. What do you hope to accomplish? How do you plan to achieve your goals? Your doctor can help you develop a plan that’s realistic, given your fitness level and the severity of your arthritis.
- Make wise activity choices. Certain sports, like running, jumping, tennis or softball, aren’t the best choices for people with RA since they can increase the deterioration of your cartilage. Walking, biking, swimming, tai chi and yoga are better low-impact choices. Check out the Arthritis Foundation for more tips on staying active.
- Wear properly fitted footwear. RA can cause foot pain and deformity, leading to pain in your legs, knees, hips and lower back. A good fitting pair of shoes made of quality construction is recommended for proper support and to best relieve RA pain. Refer to our Shoe Fitting Guide for more information on properly fitting your footwear. Custom orthotics, like ezWalker® Custom Performance Orthotics, can minimize problems caused by RA in your feet and ankles by correcting the biomechanics of your feet and realigning your body.
- Begin slowly. Don’t try to do too much, too soon. First, you need to develop your core strength, range of motion and aerobic capacity before you tackle anything more strenuous.
- Work with a physical therapist. He/she can evaluate your fitness level and help you develop a safe exercise program – one that escalates your activity level slowly. Also a physical therapist can teach you strength and stretching exercises to do before, during and after physical activity.
- Adapt your activity to your RA. While fatigue is a common symptom of RA, you can address it by participating in a regular exercise program that builds your strength and endurance. But you also need to make sure you get plenty of rest, too. Additionally, talk with your doctor to see if any of your medications may limit the activities you want to do. For example, some medications can thin your bones, so activities that can lead to falls may not be recommended.
ezWalker® Custom Performance Orthotics Can Help Reduce RA Pain
RA can cause deterioration and discomfort of the joints in your feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back. However, by wearing ezWalker® Custom Performance Orthotics, your weight will be more evenly distributed over the bottom of your feet, reducing pain from any sore spots.
Depending upon your individual needs, the WalkEZStore.com offers two levels of custom orthotic support:
- Functional support – Recommended for active individuals with flexibility or those wanting to achieve better health and comfort throughout their day. Functional orthotics are designed to guide your feet into a better biomechanical position with every step you take.
- Accommodating support – Recommended for people with arthritis, diabetes, joint mobility restrictions, lack of foot flexibility and anyone with a chronic illness who lives a more sedentary lifestyle. Accommodating orthotics are designed to reduce pressured areas without changing your gait, allowing your feet to rest.
To determine which type of support you may need, contact us.
ezWalker® Custom Orthotics are ultra thin, ¾ length, and easily transfer from shoe to shoe. Plus, they can be worn in almost any type of footwear. You’ll no longer need special shoes to wear with your custom orthotics. Additionally, ezWalker® Custom Orthotics come with a 90-day, money-back guarantee. So you’ve got nothing to lose, but your pain. Order your ezWalker® Custom Performance Insoles today.
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.®
