Autumn is here and the Bethpage Bikeway is a wonderful place to go enjoy the fall foliage. Plus, it’s right in our backyard! If you have gout accompanied by toe pain, you might be unable to go out and enjoy some physical activity. However, between eating a healthy diet and managing your disease, you should be able to stay physically fit and enjoy the changing seasons as well.

This form of arthritis is usually very painful. It occurs when excess urate crystals form near the joints. These crystals form when your body doesn’t excrete enough uric acid formed from the breakdown of substances called purines. These substances occur naturally in the body, but we can create even more by the foods we eat. Some major culprits include red meat, mushrooms, and beer. By limiting these foods, you can control an attack a bit more.

This type of arthritis also affects overweight people more than those whose bodies are more in shape. This means that staying active and maintaining a healthy weight can greatly decrease the amount of pain.

Unfortunately, many people who suffer from this disease feel so much pain that they can’t even consider doing any kind of exercise. The good news is that there are many types of exercises you can participate in that won’t cause a flare-up to occur. For instance, you can do range of motion (ROM) exercises. These will not only allow you to exercise, but will help with joint pain as well. You can even do cardio activity as long as it isn’t high impact. Cycling and swimming are also perfect for people with this condition.

It’s always best to consult with a doctor before starting a new exercise program. For more information on safely exercising with gout, call Dr. Mark Gasparini at (516) 804-9038 to schedule an appointment in our Massapequa, NY, office.

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