Arthritis refers to a medical condition that can cause pain, joint stiffness and inflammation. Arthritis is most common in your knees because of the high amounts of stress from standing and walking. According to Lissa Poirot of "Arthritis Today," jogging was frowned upon for years by medical professionals when treating patients with arthritis. Many doctors, such as Zuzana de Jong, PhD, rheumatologist and researcher at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. are now finding that jogging is beneficial to the treatment of this debilitating condition. Before you hit the pavement, remember a few things to prevent injury to fragile joints and ligaments.
Step 1
Purchase shoes that are specially designed for running. Running shoes are equipped with excess padding to help absorb the shock your legs receive upon impact. Fit your shoes correctly, avoiding tightness or too much room to move. Shoes should fit snugly and conform to your foot.
Step 2
Stretch your muscles before jogging. Muscles must be warmed up and flexible to provide optimum support to your joints. Strengthening exercises such as weight lifting will also help by increasing muscle mass in your legs, allowing for less stress to be placed on your knees.
Step 3
Change your running surface from hard pavement to grass or sand. Softer running surfaces decrease the amount of stress placed on your joints and minimize jarring movements that could lead to injury.
Step 4
Strengthen your abdominal muscles and torso to reduce the amount of stress placed on your knees. Upper body strength absorbs most of the shock during jogging, helping alleviate pressure on your knees.
Step 5
Limit your time when you begin a jogging routine. Overworking your joints can cause more problems than benefits. According to the Arthritis Foundation, starting out slowly will help increase endurance and strength on your joints, allowing for longer jogs later on.
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