Beach Therapy For Arthritic Pain?

Where I am, in 20 minutes we’ll be at the beach. But then for some reason, I do not go there as often as one would think. My lack of own car is not an excuse, around here public transpos such as the jeepneys and tricylcles are very handy and cheap.

[In Photo: my almost 5-year-old son, at the beach, April 29, 2007]

This year alone, I’ve just been to the beach twice: in April when a couple of my oldest friends came to visit and then this morning (6 am, GMT+8) because I was told that walking along the beach at early morning and burying yourself in the sand for a while (15-10 mins) is good for alleviating joint or arthritic pain.

Getting up that early is a feat for a night owl like me. However, going to beach this morning and burying myself in the warm sand was indeed therapeutic. And for better results, i should go there daily. Maybe I should. Nothing beats a dip in the ocean, and around here, the sea water is most often warm.

On top of the regular reflexology i am getting! Believe me I’d do anything just to reduce the amount of medicines i need to take everyday.

I’m not sure if there is a scientific explanation for beach therapy against arthritis pain, but according to a local old wives’ tale, it does work.

But anyway, just think of the exercise (not to mention fun!) that you’ll get at the beach, and the early morning sunshine — if it is good for your bones, it will be good for your joints.

Remember, that exercise is critical in the treatment of arthritis — mobility without hurting the joints, that is.

And that water is the best place for people with arthritis to exercise.

So, if the beach is accessible to you, make sure to go there regularly. If not for a swim, then for a walk on the shore or for burying yourself in the sun. Even if you do not have arthritis, you will benefit from stretching your legs or for sweating under the sun.

Just make sure that you go there early in the morning to avoid the harmful rays of the sun. 6-7 am is still very good, warm enough but not scorchingly hot on the beach.

Enough blabber, I should go back tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.

What about you? Do you benefit from going to the beach regularly?