Meena’s story
“The best part of swimming is the floating – the pressure off my knees is fantastic.”
Even though many days are tough, Meena tries her best to not let her arthritis become a hurdle she can’t overcome. After all, as she puts it, if you give up you just end up sitting around the house. Struggling with her energy levels, in addition to managing her weight, can sometimes impact her self-esteem. But in swimming, she has discovered something that she enjoys and offers her relief for hours after she gets out of the pool.
Video transcript
My husband always says to me, could you moody really go for a swim? Some days its unbearable, some days it’s okay. I’m either taking loads of tablets or trying not to take pain killers. It’s like a real sharpness on your knees, you just want to hit your knees with a hammer or something. I used to love Zumba, and I would keep fit, like 5 classes. But obviously as the arthritis kicked in I couldn’t do any of that. It affects my mood a lot, obviously I’m irritable with the kids and my husband. The doctors start saying you know you’ve got to find something.
The best part of the swimming is the floating. The pressure off my knees is fantastic, you just feel so full of release. It just alleviates the pain. Mostly the difference my clothes are looser. I feel more confident. My mood is lifted and that can last all day.
How Meena gets moving
Meena likes to get active by heading to the pool to swim or enjoy water aerobics courses. She used to do activities where she was on her feet for longer, but the pain in her knees gradually made them less enjoyable. That’s part of why discovering swimming was so helpful for her. Being in the water helps with her joints and leaves her feeling happier at the end of a session.
Swimming
Take a dip, try water aerobics, walk in water, or count lengths as you move through water in a way that works for you.
Trying new activities
You might just be starting to get active, or you might be looking to try something new. Either way, there are some things that might be helpful to bear in mind when you’re trying out a new way of moving.
Arthritis and MSK conditions
For people living with long-term arthritis or other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, the changing nature of the conditions, combined with the impact of pain, fatigue and low moods, can make the idea of physical activity seem overwhelming. But being active can help you manage your condition and improve your quality of life. We are here to help you find tailored activities you can enjoy, that are just right for you.