Kickboxing is a full-contact sport where participants punch and kick each other in the head and body. Arthritis is a medical condition that causes pain and lost mobility in the joints. Although it may seem like a bad idea to combine these two things -- and it can be -- there is also the intriguing possibility that kickboxing workouts can alleviate some of the factors that can make arthritis painful.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing evolved out of full-contact karate, with influence from Thai boxing and the French martial art of savate. Kickboxing practice puts participants through vigorous cardiovascular and resistance training. It also involves sessions of punching and kicking bags, and sparring or competition in the ring against another kickboxer.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is an often-degenerative condition where swelling in a joint or joints causes pain, stiffness and loss of range of motion, according to the Mayo Clinic. For most people, arthritis stems from simple wear on the protective tissues of the joints -- they wear out over time. As of 2011, there is no cure for arthritis. Treatment instead focuses on reducing the pain and increasing the comfortable range of motion.
Benefits
Strengthening the muscles surrounding a joint afflicted with arthritis can protect the joint. The stronger muscles let the joint function with less pain by supporting the bones in that area. Although it won't rebuild the damaged and worn tissue, it can alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. Since kickboxing practice is a powerful resistance and cardiovascular workout, it can help with arthritis by strengthening muscles throughout the body.
Caution
Impact is hard on joints, and kickboxing includes significant impact. You hit things with your hands and feet, and get hit in the face, head, shoulders, legs and body. Since this is hard on body tissues, and causes inflammation, kickboxing can exacerbate symptoms of arthritis. For this reason, noncontact kickboxing classes like tae bo and cardio kickboxing are better choices for those with arthritis than competitive kickboxing.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing evolved out of full-contact karate, with influence from Thai boxing and the French martial art of savate. Kickboxing practice puts participants through vigorous cardiovascular and resistance training. It also involves sessions of punching and kicking bags, and sparring or competition in the ring against another kickboxer.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is an often-degenerative condition where swelling in a joint or joints causes pain, stiffness and loss of range of motion, according to the Mayo Clinic. For most people, arthritis stems from simple wear on the protective tissues of the joints -- they wear out over time. As of 2011, there is no cure for arthritis. Treatment instead focuses on reducing the pain and increasing the comfortable range of motion.
Benefits
Strengthening the muscles surrounding a joint afflicted with arthritis can protect the joint. The stronger muscles let the joint function with less pain by supporting the bones in that area. Although it won't rebuild the damaged and worn tissue, it can alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. Since kickboxing practice is a powerful resistance and cardiovascular workout, it can help with arthritis by strengthening muscles throughout the body.
Caution
Impact is hard on joints, and kickboxing includes significant impact. You hit things with your hands and feet, and get hit in the face, head, shoulders, legs and body. Since this is hard on body tissues, and causes inflammation, kickboxing can exacerbate symptoms of arthritis. For this reason, noncontact kickboxing classes like tae bo and cardio kickboxing are better choices for those with arthritis than competitive kickboxing.
Posted in: Kickboxing