Fitness Trackers Can Help Arthritis Sufferers

Medical experts estimate that 1 in 5 Americans suffer from arthritis in some form. That means that 50 million people or more experience the debilitating pain that swollen joints can cause, in some cases radically limiting their quality of life.

It’s not just seniors who suffer from arthritis. The symptoms of the condition can appear well before old age, and experts tend to agree that there are several things that you can do to slow their progression.

One way to reduce the risk of developing arthritis is by maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. One great method of doing so is by using the latest wearable or smartphone based technology to follow a joint-friendly workout routine. Here’s how.

Stick To Specially Formulated Workout Routines

Wearable fitness trackers can be used to deliver workout routines that are adapted to seniors and younger arthritis sufferers. Instead of recommending hundreds of reps or 20 mile runs, these routines are gentler and include exercises that will promote supple joints and increase flexibility.

It’s important to remember that expert assistance is always valuable and the advice of practitioners is a great complement to technological devices when combating joint pain. If you feel the symptoms of arthritis at an early stage, consult a specialist and they will help to formulate an exercise regimen. Increasingly, this may also include activities like Yoga - a widely accepted route to better joint health when adopted early in life.

Try An Aquatic Fitness Tracker For Low Impact Exercise

Arthritis sufferers often struggle to run or walk long distances. Any exercise that puts too much pressure on your joints could be impossible. If this applies to your body, there are alternatives.

Fitness trackers have recently come onto the market that are specially adapted for swimmers. As swimming is one of the best low impact workouts known to man, these devices are manna from heaven for anyone afflicted with joint pain. They can log your cardiovascular performance, calories burned and distance travelled, with every major stroke covered.

Set The Right Goals To Achieve Success

Trackers also allow you to set precise goals, whether you are running, hiking, lifting or swimming. You can consult your own personal trainer or use a digital alternative to set a series of achievements, gradually increasing your running distance or pool time as your fitness improves.

Goal setting is a proven way to motivate yourself to continue with an exercise plan. If you suffer from joint pain, summoning up the willpower to hit the gym or lace up your running shoes can be extremely difficult. This is where motivational assistance becomes so important, so use technology to boost your confidence and determination.

Use Fitness Trackers to Record Your Progress

Confidence is a big part of any successful workout plan - particularly when you have to deal with persistent joint pain. Sometimes, after a few weeks of exercise, the strain and effort can start to seem too much, leading to abandonment before the benefits of working out have been truly felt.

Don’t give up. Instead, you can use your fitness tracker to keep an extremely detailed record of your activity. Log every meter you have walked or run. Monitor your heart rate during exercise to prove that your health is improving. You can even draw graphs to show your times improving, giving you the impetus to work harder and achieve even more.

Start Gently and Build Up Steadily

Sometimes, the temptation is to attack a challenge with all of your might. With exercise, passion and determination are great attributes, but moderation is just as important - particularly when arthritis is a factor.

Doing too much exercise too quickly can actually lead to worsened inflammation around your joints, making the whole effort seem worthless. If you are sticking to conventional trackers, don’t be tempted by routines for people with healthy joints. Start with low settings - 10 minute walks or brief swims. Check your joint pain after a week, and then decide whether to work harder. That way, any problems can be easily flagged up.

Painful joints should not be a barrier to a healthy lifestyle, and arthritis sufferers should use technology to stay active for as long as possible. With modern fitness trackers, anyone who feels the pain of inflamed joints can create exercise regimens that work with their condition, instead of ignoring it.

The end result of your efforts will be better all-round health and less painful joints. As any arthritis sufferer will tell you, these are goals worth striving for.