Can gout patients exercise? What should I pay attention to?

Before exercising, gout patients should receive guidance from a specialist, undergo relevant examinations, and make an appropriate assessment of their physical condition. So, if you can exercise, how should you exercise? And what should you pay attention to?

1. Appropriate exercise intensity and exercise time

The purpose of exercise for gout patients is to speed up metabolism, so do not engage in long or strenuous exercise. Because these exercises will cause patients to sweat excessively, blood uric acid levels will rise rapidly. Moreover, after strenuous exercise, the lactic acid content in the body will increase, inhibiting the excretion of uric acid in the renal tubules and causing a temporary increase in uric acid.

Scientific research shows that gout patients should do aerobic exercise 3-5 times a week, each time for about 30 minutes. Slow short-distance jogging, Tai Chi, Qigong, radio gymnastics, brisk walking, table tennis and other activities are more suitable, while activities that are highly competitive, intense, and consume too much physical energy, such as sprinting, football, basketball, skating, mountaineering, long-distance running, etc. are not suitable.

In addition, gout patients are afraid of cold and tend to sweat during exercise, so they are easily exposed to cold wind. Therefore, we should pay attention to keeping warm during and after exercise to avoid counterproductive effects.

2. Warm up thoroughly before exercise

Before the patient starts exercising, he should pay attention to fully warming up for about 5 minutes. The purpose is to mobilize the joints and the tissues and muscles around the joints to avoid injury during the subsequent exercise. Note that gout patients should not do a lot of exercise at the beginning, but increase it little by little and do not be impatient.

3. Pay attention to replenishing water

During exercise, you should drink plenty of water to avoid sweating which may lead to reduced urine volume, blood concentration and increased blood uric acid levels.

4. Don’t exercise when you have a gout attack

When gout attacks, patients have more difficulty moving. At this time, patients should pay attention to rest, minimize exercise, and it is best not to exercise. Wait until the attack is over before resuming exercise.