One of the common doubts among patients suffering from gout in foot is whether they should exercise or not. You must know that this is a condition caused due to the build-up of excess uric acid in the body, which leads to the formation of urate crystals in the affected joint. Often, the crystals deposit in the joint where the toe connects to the foot or the middle joint. Also, this can happen in the ankle and midfoot joint and cause sharp and severe pain. Read on to know more about walking and exercising when you have gout.
Movement When You Have Gout
Gout in foot can cause severe and sharp pain accompanied by visible swelling, redness, and warmth to the touch. This can develop in the toe, ankle, and midfoot joints because they are the major joints in the foot.
If you are suffering from this ailment in the foot, doctors recommend reducing weight so that there is less stress on your foot and other weight-bearing joints in the body. Also, this can be complemented by using a walking aid like a cane.
Decreasing the load on the gout-affected joint can help with reducing inflammation, which allows you to move more freely. The inflammation can also be reduced by applying a cold or ice pack on the joint; this also helps to relieve pain.
Why Is It Important To Walk And Exercise When You Have Gout?
If gout is left untreated, it can result in permanent joint damage. So, to avoid this, you must follow a proper treatment plan.
Listed below are the two major reasons for involving in physical activity when you have gout:
- Maintaining Healthy Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight through a regulated diet helps to prevent excessive weight-bearing force on the gout-affected joint. Apart from this, the other focus of the diet that you follow is reducing uric acid levels.
- Exercising To Lower Uric Acid Levels: Research has shown that there is more uric acid in the fat in our body. So, reducing fat can help with lowering uric acid levels in the body, and this can be done by exercising. Also, doctors recommend improving cardiovascular health by exercising as people suffering from gout have a higher risk of increased blood pressure.
You must consult a doctor before engaging in active walking and exercising when you have gout in foot.
