Exercising to Ease Gout Flares - By: Soumya Saha

Gout flares can be both painful and debilitating. Throbbing pain in your knee or foot usually makes your exercise decision for you. No one wants to have to hobble from machine to machine, or even to have to lace up your tight running shoes. However, some gentle exercise can often have a positive long term outcome on your gout flares. Although exercise can not remove all traces of uric acid from the body (diet changes are needed for this), gentle exercises definitely help to prevent future buildup of the dreaded uric acid, reducing the frequency and severity of gout flares.

But how to start? Your first step should be talking to your doctor. Your doctor can recommend which specific exercises can be safely used on your body. Everyone has gout in different parts of their body, and what works for your friend may have a negative effect on you. Also, remember that if you have a gout flare-up, be sure to stop exercising. You can get back on your schedule once the pain is gone.

"Range of motion" exercises tend to be a core element in a gout exercise regimen. Exercises such as tai chi, band exercises and gentle yoga are great for keeping the joints limber. This maximizes circulation in these areas, often clearing out uric acid. Range of motion exercises also reduce stiffness, which if left unchecked, can lead to loss of mobility, weight gain, and unnecessary pain.

Another great group of exercises to add to your regime are strength training exercises. With painful joint swelling from gout, sufferers often lose mobility and range of motion, also leading to a loss of strength in knees, ankles and hands. Using light weights, and building up your repetitions over time can counteract this. Squats are also a great option to strengthen the legs while keeping the knee joints mobile.

Stretching is an essential part of any workout. Once slightly warmed up, you should gently stretch out your muscles in order to prevent exercise injuries. Stretching promotes the flushing of uric acid, which is great for reducing the regularity of gout flares.

Increasing your exercise over time with gentle stretching and range of motion exercises can be a great addition to dietary changes and medicines prescribed by your doctor. Exercising combined with gout medicines such as colchicine should significantly reduce the frequency and severity of your gout flares. After you feel more limber and have more mobility, try some light strength training exercises. If these are not helping your gout pain, your doctor may suggest that you buy Colcrys or other anti-inflammatory drugs.

About the Author

Julia Mulline is a medical writer based out of Vancouver, BC, Canada. She recommends Big Mountain Drugs, a licensed Canadian pharmacy online to buy Colcrys and other anti-inflammatory medications.

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