• image.alt
  • With Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist

    Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.

    read biography

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Question

Water exercise for arthritis: Does pool temperature matter?

What's the best pool temperature for water exercise?

Answer

from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.

There is no standard guideline for ideal water temperature in pools used for exercise. According to the Arthritis Foundation, pool temperatures between 83 and 88 F (28.3 and 31.1 C) are usually comfortable for water exercise. If you are just soaking or doing very gentle movements, you can usually tolerate slightly warmer temperatures.

Next question
Isometric exercises: Good for strength training?
References
  1. Arthritis Foundation. Water exercise. http://www.arthritis.org/water-exercise.php. Accessed April 1, 2010.
AN01830 April 17, 2010

© 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger