arthritis

[greenbelt_girl15]

I was at the Dr. this morning and- even though it's fairly rare for my age - I was diagnosed with the beginings of osteoarthritis .I have it in my wrists and knees.

I was wondering how many of you martial artists out there have arthritis and how you deal with it.

Are there any excersizes that you prefere for releaving pain and stiffness?

[dtstiachi]

I'm sorry to hear about the diagnosis greenbelt_girl15. Try a calcium supliment and I would consider doing some Zhuan Zhuang training to help stregthen your bones. My grandmaster at school was diagnosed with osteoarthitis at a very early age and he is still "kickin". He practiced Zhuan Zhuang and it helped him tremedously. Good luck

[greenbelt_girl15]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is Zhuan Zhuang exactly?

[dtstiachi]

Hey no problem.

Zhuan Zhuang training is also known as standing meditation, standing on stake methods, or posting. Zhuan Zhaung is an excersize that will cultivate the chi flow in your body and will help you in many other ways as far as health and power go. I would recommend you do a Google search onZhuan Zhuang (you will get around 185,000 hits). Another great book dealing with Zhan Zhuang is Chi Kung: Way of Power by Master Lam Kam Chuen. He talks in detail about Zhan Zhuang training and will walk you through the steps. Let me know if I can be of any more help.

[greenbelt_girl15]

Thanks for the info dtstiachi.

[dtstiachi]

sure thing greenbelt_girl

[Saotome]

I have a form of arthritis in my left hip socket that is a 'building-up' kind, in that I am getting a calcium bone spur that is slowly closing up the socket.

I've gotten to the point that I really can't do round kicks any more. Not enough range of motion in the socket. My side kicks look more like back kicks with the over-rotation I have to do. And I'm only 35.

My doctor says that if I live to be a hundred, I'll be walking like a cinema Frankenstein's monster.

That's okay...as Bruce Lee said (paraphrased), don't focus on what you can't do, focus on what you can do, and make it work.

[Kicks]

I was just told last month that the resason I have cronic pain in my right foot's big toe and knuckle is because I have developed arthritis from jamming and breaking it so many time. They have me on Bextra...one of those arthritis medicines that are causing so much stir in the news. The OTC stuff really didn't work so I had to go with prescription.

[ladyj]

greenbeltgirl go with the calcium supplement, if you can't take the pills try the chews, GNC makes a caramel flavored one that tastes like caramel candy also Wal-mart carrys a chocolate flavored calcium chew, but I can't think of the name. Also consider lifting light weights this will help to make the bones harder. Good luck.

[ninjanurse]

I also have arthritis in my wrists, knees, and back from years of pounding heavy bags and boards. My joint problems have changed the way I train but they don't keep me from training. I find that keeping my joints in motion is imperative so I really feel it when I take time off from training. The thing that has helped me the most is my diet. I have been a vegetarian for years but it wasn't until I went vegan (no dairy, eggs, animal products) that I experienced significant improvement in my joints. I do not take any joint supplements (tried them-they don't work) nor exogenous calcium either. I recently had a dexascan which showed that at 43 I have the bone density of a 21 year old. Now if I only had the cartilage of a 23 year old!!!!!!