One of the best ways to prevent arthritis, or to prevent it from getting worse, is to get a moderate amount of daily exercise. This can be as simple as walking a little extra, and as complex as regular water aerobics. The best arthritis exercise is extremely low impact, a good aerobic workout, and strengthens the muscles around your joints so that they can carry more of the weight rather than have it all depend on the bones.

Starting with the simplest arthritis exercise, walk a little more every day. Researchers have found that people who walk at least thirty minutes every day as exercise show much less incidence of arthritis. If you decide that walking will be your ideal self care method, be sure to get a good pair of walking shoes to provide the best possible support for your feet, and let your doctor know what you are doing so he can give you any necessary advice.

If walking isn't enough for you or if you want to try something else, consider yoga. For arthritis, yoga is an ideal exercise. It's extremely low impact, focusing primarily on flexibility, balance, and muscular strength, and treats not only the body but also the mind. Look into your local YMCA for beginning yoga classes; you may also find these excellent flexibility exercises being offered at local senior centers and private gyms. Organizers of regular exercise classes in these places are also aware of the benefits of exercise for arthritis, and will probably be able to help you modify anything that is too intense for your own needs.

One of the most popular arthritis exercises for more advanced problems is water aerobics. These classes take place while you're immersed in water up to your chest, and the water provides an excellent cushion for your joints, supporting much of your weight while you work on moving against the water's resistance. Water aerobics are also very good for people who have lung problems, as the humidity keeps lungs moist and healthy while you're working out. Water aerobics are a particularly good rheumatoid arthritis exercise as well, strengthening the muscles around the joints without stressing the joints.

For osteoarthritis, exercise should always be low-impact. Osteoarthritis is caused by damage to the joints, and anything requiring weight bearing or impacts to the joints is going to cause more harm than good. In this case, the best arthritis exercise is likely to be swimming, biking, and other sports that keep your weight off your feet. Horseback riding, for instance, is excellent for osteoarthritis that does not involve your back.

Regardless of what sort of arthritis exercise you choose, you should learn proper warm-up techniques. Pulling or overextending a muscle can make your arthritis symptoms worse by stressing the joint near the pulled muscle or overworking the joints on the other side of your body. Also, pay close attention to good arthritis care while you're exercising. Taking an anti inflammatory prior to exercising daily and keeping up your other standard arthritis treatments helps guarantee you won't have a flareup while you're working out.