To grow older gracefully your body needs exercise frequently to maintain good health. However, for those who suffer the pain and stiffness of arthritis on a daily basis may find exercising more difficult and give up trying. Then why not consider how water aerobics may help provide you with arthritis pain relief to live a more fulfilling life. Now when some people hear the term water aerobics they may think of those fancy movements done by synchronized swimming professionals, but that’s not what is being suggested here. Instead of that, just use the soothing effects of water to enable your body to achieve a wider range of movement like that used in what is called aquatic therapy. Exercising in water is used for rehabilitation purposes, aiding in pain relief, as well as to help one improve overall muscle tone and fitness. How Water Aerobics Makes For Easy Exercise and Provides Pain Relief Aerobic water exercise provides a cushioning to your body enabling you to move easily in water. For example on a smaller scale, you may have noticed how much lighter your legs feel when immersed in a tub of water. And when you start moving and rotating your sore stiff ankles or knees against the water, the effects are much less pain. This is because your ability to move easier while immersed in water stimulates your cardiovascular system that increases blood flow to painful joints and areas of stiffness to help relieve pain. Now when you actually immerse more of your body in water and move faster by doing various exercises more regularly, the amount of pain relief improves. At the same time, your body is improving your cardiovascular system, building and toning muscles, and improving flexibility and range of motion. This kind of aquatic therapy known also as water aerobics has benefits for people who may not otherwise be able to withstand the effects of land-based exercise such as running, jogging or even regular walking. When you run or jog, your body weight is increased up to 5 times more each time your heel hits the ground. When your body is in water it becomes buoyant and the impact of any motion on your body is greatly reduced. The buoyant nature of water is what makes it easy for you to be able to float. When your body is immersed in water to your waistline it bears only 50% of its weight, and at chest depth that reduces to about 30% which reduces the force of gravity. As you move through the water, you won’t feel any jarring against your joints – just a smooth consistent gliding of your limbs. Water exercise improves range of motion and at the same time provides enough gentle resistance to develop muscle tone and relieve pain and stiffness. As you move your arms and legs through water it does become much like gliding. But, don’t let that motion fool you, because your body is getting exercise due to the resistance of your motions against the water. When you make your motions in water faster, it increases the resistance against your body which in turn increases the level of your exercise workout. If you are not a swimmer that does not matter, because water aerobics are basically exercises you will do in a vertical position. Your body will be immersed in water to about waist or chest high depth while doing aerobic water exercises. Some people prefer to use flotation belts or other aquatic items, either just for the fun of it, or just to feel safer. Although these are not necessary to get good aquatic exercise results, flotation belts have assisted even people in wheelchairs to be able to improve their range of motion and build their muscles. The kind of exercises performed should be tailored to your specific condition and you should consult with your physician before starting any activity that impacts your health. Many people find it more enjoyable to do these aquatic exercises to music, just like traditional aerobics are done on land. The music just makes it more fun while adding to your overall body fitness. Many senior activity centers offer water aerobic classes that meet 2 or 3 times weekly. It’s a great way to meet new people and do something really good for yourself. By keeping your body more agile and pain free you will be able to enjoy more of life’s activities and help lessen the effects of aging.