It’s no secret that maintaining an active lifestyle or fitness routine is key to a healthy, happy life. But what if the constant joint pain is keeping you off the running trail and on the couch? There are plenty of ways to explore the outdoors in an active, low-joint-impact way. Today we will be discussing four fun outdoor activities that are easy on the joints:

Biking

Kick up your cardio while minimizing joint impact. Biking is a great way to get around town or explore new trails all while raising your heart rate. Yes, a lot of gyms have stationary bicycles that also would be great for a good workout, but getting outdoors, soaking up vitamin D and listening to nature is way better. Bonus: cities like Denver, Colorado are becoming more and more bike friendly every day with new trails, bike lanes and even things like bike themed brewery tours.

Swimming

This one is perfect for hot summer days. Swimming isn’t just for the kids to splash around in a pool. Swimming is a great activity that doesn’t carry much impact on your joints and still uses a lot of muscles (like a lot of muscles). Swimming laps at the pool is a great way to get your heart rate up and burn some serious calories. Or, get to one of the many lakes and reservoirs that dot the city

Pilates or Yoga

Pilates and yoga are great workout activities as they are often done as a group of friends or a class; this is especially good if you are looking to branch out of your immediate social circle and meet new people. Pilates and Yoga often are thought of as stretching, not necessarily a workout. However, rest assured these are workouts. Different classes may focus on different things such as muscle, or mind strengthening. Also, Yoga has become a very popular social activity here in  Denver. There are things like Yoga on the Rocks at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, brewery yoga, aerial yoga, Yoga in the Park and even paddle boarding yoga (seriously). If these interest you check out:

Walking

Hear us out: walking is a terrific workout, especially if you have the time to do a 2-3 mile walk or hike. If your joint pain is very sensitive, dirt trails are going to be the way you want to go. Moreover, be wary of the trails you choose. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend one of Colorado’s 14ers, but perhaps a trail with little elevation gain will suit you (some parks to check out near Denver: Red Rocks, Chautauqua, and Lookout Mountain, and throughout the United States) Also, if you can walk to work twice a week to increase your weekly step count; this is also a great way to explore new areas and streets on your way to work.

Joint pain can be painful and can make it seem like any physical activity will hurt. Well, that is just not the case. We here at Reinhardt Chiropractic will work with you to get your joints as strong as possible. However, as we work toward that goal together, try these forms of activity to keep your body in tip top healthy shape. Schedule an appointment today!