Water therapy can help people suffering from a loss of joint mobility exercise their joints with less pain because of the buoyancy of the water, according to scholars at the University of Washington. The warmth of the water, combined with the support it offers for your body weight, help patients suffering from arthritis to exercise their muscles and joints with less pain and more comfort. Be sure that you check with your doctor or therapist before starting any exercise program to ensure that it's right for your condition.
Seated Knee Bend
Sit in a chair in water deep enough to cover your upper body with your head out of the water. Use a slow and controlled motion to lift one foot off the floor of the pool and straighten your knee. Hold this extended position for about three seconds and repeat for the prescribed number of repetitions on both sides.
Hip Flexion and Extension
This exercise will help improve the flexibility of your hip while simultaneously strengthening the muscles that keep your knee straight. Stand in chest deep water and hold onto the side of the pool with one hand. Keep both knees straight and lift one leg off the pool floor. Lift your leg as high as you comfortably can and hold this for about five seconds. Now swing your leg backward as far as you can while keeping your knee straight. Repeat on both sides.
Knee Flexion and Extension
This exercise is performed similarly to the hip flexion and extension exercise, but is designed to improve the flexibility of your knee joint. Stand with one shoulder facing the edge of the pool and hold onto the pool with your hand. Lift your opposite knee up as high as you can and then straighten your knee as far as possible. Hold this position for a second and then bend your knee and lower your foot to the floor. Repeat this exercise on both sides for the desired number of repetitions.
Water Walking
This exercise is a deceptively simple way to improve the strength of the muscles needed for walking. Stand in chest deep water and begin walking back and forth across the pool. The resistance of the water will help improve the strength of your lower body while the buoyancy of the water will keep some of your body weight off your knees. You can begin by just walking forward and as your strength and condition improves you can also walk backwards in the pool.
Swimming
If your specific condition allows it, the buoyancy of the water can make swimming an effective way to strengthen your bones and muscles, according to ArthritisResearchUK.org. Besides giving your body much-needed exercise, swimming can help get your muscles and joints working better without the unnecessary strain that can be placed on your body by other forms of exercise. Check with your doctor to determine whether swimming could be a good exercise for your arthritis.
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