Exercise may seem unappealing or daunting due to your rheumatoid arthritis pain and stiffness. However, making it a regular habit may actually help you better manage your condition while reducing risks for other health problems, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It is important, however, to consult a health care provider before creating your exercise plan.
History
Experts in the medical community used to deter people with rheumatoid arthritis from exercising because it was thought that exercise could damage your joints. Research did not bear this theory out. In fact, research shows the opposite: Exercise is actually an essential tool for managing arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. The ideal rheumatoid arthritis exercise program includes stretching exercises to keep your joints moving more freely and your muscles flexible, strengthening work so your muscles are better able to support your joints, and cardiovascular exercise to make your lungs and heart stronger.
Significance
Exercise can reduce your joint pain and stiffness. It also helps reduce your arthritis inflammation and cuts your risk for suffering other chronic conditions like osteoporosis or heart disease. Exercise boosts your overall health as well because it helps control your weight, gives you more energy, cuts risk for depression and helps you sleep better. Since rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic condition, it may affect more than just your joints, according to the University of Missouri. It also can affect your skin, lungs, heart, eyes, gastrointestinal and nervous systems, blood, and kidneys. This makes maintaining overall health especially important.
Potential
If you are reluctant to exercise due to your pain, try water exercises. Water exercise programs can be used to improve strength and flexibility but place less stress on your spine, hips and knees than other forms of exercise. Water walking is just one type of water exercise that builds fitness. Your local community pool or YMCA may offer a water exercise program, such as water aerobics.
Considerations
Start slowly if you are unused to exercise and gradually increase the time and intensity of your exercise sessions. Monitor your body closely and give inflamed joints a rest but continue with exercises that do not affect the inflamed joints. If you experience increased joint pain following exercise, you may need to scale back the intensity of your exercise program.
Expert Insight
Talk to a health care provider when developing an exercise program that is tailored for your specific needs. Consult your doctor or a physical or occupational therapist for help designing a program. Occupational therapists teach you how to perform exercises as well as daily tasks without adding stress to your joints and can help you attain assistive devices that can make exercising more comfortable for you. Physical therapists give instruction on proper exercise precautions and techniques.
