If you like to swim, use strokes such as the crawl and try leg floats to limit the motion of your legs. For walking, insert shock-absorbing insoles in your shoes. To increase the aerobic workout of your walk, carry weights in your hands. You can make your own weights by putting one to two pounds of beach sand or lead shot in a sock and tying the top. Aerobic activities that use legs more than arms include traditional aerobics, walking steps or hills and bicycling.
Upright handlebars are a lot easier on arthritic shoulders than the racing type.
When swimming, try breast stroke or side stroke, which use limited arm motion, or try clutching a kick board to your chest so that you're floating on it, then propel yourself through the water with only the flutter kick. Whichever activities you choose, start slowly, cautions Teitz. Try to continue your activity for 20 minutes, but if you grow overly tired or something begins to hurt don't push it. She recommends increasing your time or distance only 10 percent per week. At the beginning, separate your exercise sessions by a minimum of two days.