Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in your joints and can limit your mobility. Even though it may be difficult at first, exercising regularly can reduce your arthritis symptoms and may even prevent the disease from getting worse. If you suffer from arthritis pain in your back, hips or legs, you can benefit from performing abdominal exercises to increase your core strength and take the strain off of your inflamed joints.
Submerged Knee Lifts
To tone your abdomen with arthritis, it's wise to perform as low-impact exercise as you can to prevent further stress on your joints. Knee lifts can tone your abdomen, but you can take any stress off your feet and ankles by doing them in water. Wade into a pool about waist deep and lift your knees up as high as you can. March around the pool this way or in place, lifting your right knee, then your left knee. Try to stand tall and hold your belly tight for maximum effect.
Leg Lifts
Leg lifts can tone and tighten your abdominal muscles, giving your upper body more support and taking some of the strain off of your back. To do this exercise, lie on the floor with a blanket under your neck. Keep your arms at your sides as you lift both feet off the ground. Hold for a few seconds, then lower them back down. Use your abdomen to lift your legs, not your neck or back.
Qigong
To improve abdominal flexibility and strength, you can do a Qigong exercise called Cloud Hands. To perform this exercise, begin with your knees bent and arms bent at the elbow and flat. With your palms up, twist your torso to the left and push your hands back toward the center of your body. Repeat on the right side. Continue for as long as you like to increase flexibility and relieve tension.
Cobra Pose
The cobra pose is a part of yoga and helps to stretch your chest and abdominal muscles while strengthening your back. If you have severe pain in your back, you may wish to avoid this exercise, as it can exacerbate your problems. To start, lie face down on a yoga mat with your arms bent at the elbows and your weight on your forearms. Your feet should be flat on the ground. Squeeze your thighs together as you push up onto your hands. Stretch your back and belly, being sure to keep your shoulders down. Hold for several seconds before returning to the starting position.
