Motion can be lotion for painful joints, literally warming and lubricating the painful joint. Although exercise is often recommended for arthritis and other painful joint conditions, you should always consult a physician before beginning any exercise program if you experience joint pain. She can help you identify or at least narrow down the cause of the pain, which may affect your choice of exercise equipment.
Water
Although a swimming pool might not be on your usual list of exercise equipment, enrolling for access to a facility with a swimming pool may be one of your best fitness buys. Working out in the water reduces the impact and load on your joints, and gives you extra support that may allow a greater and more comfortable range of motion. You don't have to swim laps; just walking back and forth in the water is good exercise, and you can also enroll in aquatics fitness classes.
Elliptical Trainer
Low-impact elliptical trainers allow you to walk or run as fast as you like, without the repeated joint-jarring impacts of running outside or on a treadmill. But elliptical trainer users sometimes report foot, knee and ankle numbness, pain and discomfort. Always try an elliptical trainer before you buy it to make sure you feel comfortable while using it. Some manufacturers also produce machines with a slight inward slant to the pedals and adjustable-angle pivoting foot pedals to encourage more natural body mechanics. If your elliptical trainer has moving upper body handlebars, you can push and pull for a more intense upper body workout or just rest your hands on the handlebars to move your arms and shoulders through the range of motion.
Arm Cycle
The arm cycle, also called an arm ergometer or upper body ergometer, is an ideal form of exercise if your lower body joints just cannot tolerate weight bearing exercise. You adjust the resistance, so a UBE can offer anything from gentle range-of-motion exercise to an intense cardiovascular workout engaging the large muscles of your chest, back, shoulders and arms.
Recumbent Stationary Bike
A recumbent stationary exercise bike works your lower body just as a regular bike does, but you sit behind and slightly above the pedals instead of almost on top of them. A recumbent bike's broad seat and backrest -- some of which offer adjustable lumbar support -- and low impact, non-weight-bearing exercise may be more comfortable than any other equipment if you have lower back or joint problems.
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