I was recently diagnosed with both psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and prescribed Enbrel, which causes muscle weakness. I want to strengthen my whole body so that it doesn’t cause me to be so weak. I also don’t want to cause a flare up by doing so. Just asking for any suggestions of flare friendly work outs!
Oh and you don't have to be a senior to benefit from those
I use ENBREL as well for psoriatic arthritis. I do chair yoga routines, treadmill. I use 2 pound weights for arm exercises, I also have this piece of equipment for core strength. I’m not sure what it’s called but it’s comparable to the Ab Lounge. It doesn’t put strain on my back and it’s high up enough so I don’t have to be very far to get into the seat. I do exercise with these methods five days a week, but if I have a flareup and I’m really suffering, I will skip the exercising until the flare subsides. Thankfully, I haven’t had a bad flareup since March.
Here is one I do daily. Stand at the counter or behind a chair for support. Go up on your toes while holding on. This strengthens ankles, but the big bonus is the calf muscle flex. This is known as the second heart, as it wakes up the lymphatic system and gets the veins pumping, moving fluid back up the legs. Just one or two is enough to start. Next week, add two more. And so on...
I too have lost a lot of muscle mass along with a lot of weight. I use the stairs, the kitchen counter, flexing while sitting with my legs raised. It is a slow process for sure but I can see the difference. Also a lot of water for sure
If you have access to a pool and can do walking and stretching and water aerobics it is terrific for you and low impact. Good luck