There are a lot of things that you may not be able to do with arthritis pain. But there are some recommended exercises that strengthen, improve flexibility and even relieve arthritis pain. Incorporating these moves into your everyday life will make it easy to keep it up on a regular basis. In turn, participating in the activities that you enjoy can be not only therapeutic mentally, but physically as well. Just a few simple changes can help you live your life to the fullest.

You should talk to your doctor before trying any of these activities or exercises if you are not comfortable. No strengthening or flexion building exercise should ever be painful, so be sure that what you are doing is safe for you and will not worsen your condition. In general, badly damaged joints should not be exercised unless you are only doing exactly what your doctor or therapist told you to. If your arthritis is mild and only in the ligaments or tendons surrounding the joint, then some mild activities may help the pain. .

Most people find it hard to stick to a rigid routine of stretching and exercise. But, if you combine it with something that you love, like gardening, then you can really benefit without ever feeling like you worked at all. I mention gardening because it is something that many people with arthritis feel that they have to give up. This is not necessarily true. There are a few ways of doing things that can actually help make your arthritis pain better.

For example, planting your garden on an elevated garden bed will put the plants up at a level where you can reach it. You will not need to bend all the way over or spend long periods of time working in the ground. Elevated beds that are four or five feet across provide just enough distance for you to stretch, only slightly, while tending to your plants.

For watering your yard, flower beds or gardens, use a hose reel. Automatic hose reels will retrieve the hose for you so that you do not stress your back, hips, shoulders and hand putting away the hose. Some even have forward assist so that you do not have to pull on the heavy hose to get it to where you need it.

You may be thinking that the spray nozzle of your hose is nearly impossible to use with arthritic hands, and you are right. Get an automatic garden hose reel that has clamp on attachments so that you do not even have to screw them on or to the faucet. Some come with a clamp on fireman’s hose nozzle that has a handle that pulls back. Use the tips of your fingers to clasp and pull the handle. This replicates the stretching exercise most recommended for people with arthritic fingers.

Work with your doctor to find other ways that you can enjoy your life and incorporate stretching and strengthening into daily activities.