Im preparing to work with a client with severe arthritis in her hands and wrists. Any website recommendations or trainer tips?
My client is a middle aged female with very limited range of motion to her wrists due to pain. She is very dedicated to controlling her condition. She is medication free and eats an amazing diet which helps reduce pain. We use medicine and exercise balls in workouts but I am looking for more. Any websites, or exercise tips are appreciated!
If you have not dealt with limitations like these prior you should proceed (since it sounds like ya will) with extreme caution.
Think of how highly used this body part is AND there is prior medical complication involved. What are the session goals, genreal fitness or are there some theraputics involved?
Either way just to safe, make sure your insurance will cover you. I had an in-home client “suggest” escallation in his physical deterioration as a way for him to cease the program his wife hired me to build and work him through.
The thing I believed saved my @ss ws that I had always documented my personal programs and his wife was an honest lady who eased my mind and told my his whole senario.
Don’t think you should try randomly solicited suggestions witht this. Not tryna be rude, jus say’n…
Protect yourself and reputation @ all cost. Re-think situation if you have to.
Hi, Jen!
Arthritis is one of those tricky situatiins for trainers. Some sufferers experience chronic pain while others may only experience occasional flare-ups. As long as the client has been cleared medically to participate in exercise, I would focus on keeping them comfortable both during & after their workout. The exercises that trigger pain can vary from person to person, so monitor the individual and base your decisions on their personal response.
That being said, several of my clients have arthritis in their hands and wrists. One made her own padded cushion so that she can be comfortable in plank/pushup position on a regular floor. I find that a folded towel works well to give other clients support for similar exercises. Even a simple pair of weightlifting gloves may provide enough of a cushion for her to try new things. If bearing her full body weight is causing her increased discomfort, you could do many exercises on stairs, chairs or a wall to limit the load on those joints. I’ve found that paralettes (bars that are typically a few inches off the floor) can be helpful for some clients, but not all. Karen also makes great points about using straps as grip strength is often limited by this condition.
Keep trying new things, but have backup ideas in case the original plan doesn’t work for her. I personally haven’t used websites specific to this issue, but hope you find what you need. Best of luck!
In the course of curing my squeaky knees a number of years ago, I was in line behind a woman who, like me, was buying a bottle of cod liver oil. We got to talking and she told me how it had cured her hand arthritis. Since then, distilled cod liver oil has become available, without any of the fishy taste, which was rancidity and other products of oxidation. A tablespoon a day, along with a 40/30/30 diet, will reduce her inflammation and positively affect her health in general.
Using straps to help with grip is a good idea for people with severe OA in the hands and wrists. But moving the joints is also important. If there isn’t a reason not to move the hands and wrists as much as possible, then it should be done regularly. Check with their doctor. Not movng the OA involved joints AMAP, will result in continuing loss of ROM and pain with less and less movement.
Aquatic exercise is excellent. I recommend attempting to find either a class specifically for OA or a good instructor with OA experience. Also, a warm water pool is much better for OA exercise, 85 to 90 degrees. Which is much too warm for most swim training pools. Check with a physician about range of motion and possibly using an anti-inflammatory pre/post workout.