Arthritis in Hips

Many people with arthritic pain in their hips or knees cannot walk the 30-60 minutes that are recommended to improve blood-sugar control. You can do armchair aerobics and stretches while sitting.

Water aerobics in a swimming pool is another activity that does not put stress on your joints. If you can do them, gentle "standing" exercises, such as tai chi or chi kung, can give you a no-impact workout.

All exercise routines should include a 10-minute warm-up period, 10-30 minutes of exercise, and a 10-minute cooldown period. The exercise must be intense enough to raise your heart rate but not so intense that you can't speak, You may break out in a light sweat if you're not in a pool.

Weight loss is not the only benefit of exercising. Exercise also increases insulin sensitivity, improves blood flow to the heart and muscles, and helps improve blood-sugar control.

As with all exercise programs, you should consult your health-care team for recommendations about the activity that is right for you. Don't let your arthritis prevent you from exercising.