A painful and debilitating condition, rheumatoid arthritis wages a war against your body. In a person with rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system does not recognize its own tissues. As a result, the body attacks itself. Although this condition causes pain and joint damage, running with rheumatoid arthritis might actually be beneficial.
Symptoms
The condition most commonly occurs in the smaller joints of the hands and feet. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include swelling, tenderness, stiffness and pain in the affected joints. As the condition progresses, it might move to the wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, knees and hips. The symptoms vary in severity, often becoming worse during periods of intense physical activity, such as while running. More severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis might also cause widespread fever and fatigue.
Causes
The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown as of 2010. However, the Mayo Clinic explains that certain factors might make a person more susceptible to the condition. These factors include genetics and becoming infected with certain bacteria or viruses. Regardless of its cause, once the condition sets in, it wreaks havoc on the body.
Exercise
Fortunately, exercise does not increase the progression or damage of rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, a 2009 study done at France’s University of Grenoble Medical School found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis actually reported less pain and joint stiffness when they were exercising regularly. This study, titled “Efficacy of Cardiorespiratory Aerobic Exercise in Rheumatoid Arthritis,” also found that regular exercise resulted in less fatigue and improved ability to cope with the arthritis.
Running
Dr .Scott Zashin, a rheumatologist in Texas, explains on the Arthritis Foundation website that running is not recommended if the rheumatoid arthritis has caused any damage to your weight-bearing joints. According to Zashin, “if you have damage in the lower extremities, then no jogging or hard aerobics.” Instead, opt for low-impact exercises, such as cycling, swimming or water aerobics. However, if there is no damage to your weight-bearing joints, running and other high-intensity exercises are acceptable.
Coping
Whether or not the rheumatoid arthritis has damaged your lower extremities, running with the condition will likely be painful. Fortunately, a few minor modifications to your running routine might help relieve some of this pain. Before running, apply heat to your sore joints. The heat should help loosen the joints, making them less stiff. After running, apply ice packs to the sore joints. The cold temperatures not only reduce swelling, but also numb the area from pain. As you run, pay close attention to your body. If the activity becomes painful, try walking for a few minutes. It the pain subsides, slowly progress back into running. If the pain does not subside, it may be best to allow your joints to rest for the day.
