I received a lot of questions about swimming, water therapy, execise routines for pain and joint stiffness relief lately...hope this tidbit helps anyone interested in using aquatics to help alleviate their symptoms and/or provide some relief. I have advanced RA (diagnosed last november), 43, 3 young children and an infant, husband, crazy, fast-paced lifestle)...

I did as my rheumatologist and doctors suggested and started "swimming" as soon as I was advised...and believe it or not...it made me feel worse. I was scared and quite concerned that if I could not do even that, I would never improve enough to do much of anything, lt alone "get my lefe back". I stopped as it just got too fatiguing and painful. My my "water-exercises" daily at her health club (especially contains programs for recovery, back, arthritic, and other clients) and she kept bothering...no pestering me (sweetly) to try a swimbelt she uses for her classes. She finally even bought one for me to have to make it convenient for me to try in my own pool at home privately. I put it off, ignored it, pooh-pooh it...but this summer...I kept looking outside to our pool and finally thought...what the heck and went to go in for a "walk"....How amazing. I was floating effortlessly in the water...no gravity, no weight, no effort to stay afloat...so I could concentrate on motion, movement, and whatever I wanted to "work" out without expending any effort to stay afloat in the process. I could even do laps. I have to say it does hinder "speed"...it makes you move with grace and slowly. My son loves it as he can always win swim meets when I wear it! heh heh.

I am now "kickboxing" and water-running" regularly and feel refreshed, invigorated, and little if any fatigue through the day. Amazing. I hate to miss a day and it's made it so I am strong enough to powerwalf 2-4 miles a day on good days and I expect to improve. I;'ve advised my rheoumatologist to recommend this type of therapy as I don't believe the doctor's truly understand the significance of gravity and weight (even in the water) expeds so much energy and fatigues us so. Try a belt. I use the "kiefer" brand...as it's wider than traditional support and ski-belts. They have a website too if interested.

Hope this info helps any/all involved. Goog luck. I have to go "kickbox" with my kids now!

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is a 'swim belt'??? I want to start exercising in the pool so its gentle on my joints, but dont want to hurt afterwards. If this belt works, where can I get one? What exactly does it do, weigh you down so you dont bounce??

Meg

FIND THE WEBSITE FOR THE BRAND i INDICATED AND READ UP FROM THERE. aLSO LOOK UP HEALTHCLUBS THAT SPECIFICALLY CATER TO ARTHRITIC CONDITIONS AND OFFER HEATED POOLS AND CLASSES USING AQUATIC THERAPY. mOST OF THE SELL BELTS/USE THEM FOR THEIR CLASSES. (oOPS..."cAPS lOCK ON...) Sorry about the CAPS...I inadvertently wasn't paying attention to the text output!). I can't post any websites or specify detail products through these posts...rules! But this should help you help yourself search.

The belt allows you to stay suspended in the water comfortably and easilly. This way you are not exerting yourself just trying to stay afloat (which results in fatigue and can increase rather than decrease your pain after the workout). You can choose from that point how "rigorous" a routine you wish to follow without struggling to float thus allowing you to fully concentrate on each problem areas individually or in any combination. It allows you to strictly use the water as fluid resistance and a means of comfort simultaneously. On bad days when my hips are particularly bad and ankles...I rotate the leg and freeup the socket ...it's like trying to free up the joints in the Tin Man after a rain (oil can)...but it works. I work joint-to-joint just slowly to limber up and then I stretch and work them until they feel better than when I started. Depending on time and how I feel...I move to a routine. I wasn't ablt to Tai-bo and kick box right away. Just to limber up was the first step. I had to "water walk"...literally float/walk until I was strong and flexible enough to move to the bigger routines. I'm working up to being able to use weights and eventually drop the belts to try laps at midway. I expect by the end of the summer I should be able to do it. It made a huge difference. I hated the water therapy before and was quite discouraged. Now I have a shot at even getting my muscle tone back and some more strength without "hurting" myself in the process. Good luck.