Exercise

Regular exercise is recommended for everyone, not just people with inflammatory joint disease.

Exercise can help reduce your risk of many conditions, including heart disease and many forms of cancer.

It is helpful to do a mixture of aerobic, stretching and strengthening exercises.

Exercising regularly can help relieve stress, help keep your joints mobile, and strengthen the muscles supporting your joints.

Exercise can also help you lose weight if you're overweight, which can put extra strain on your joints.

It is important to find a balance between rest and exercise. Rest sometimes makes inflamed joints feel more comfortable, but without movement your joints will stiffen and your muscles will become weaker. When having a flare ensure that you take the affected joints through the full range of motion regularly.

Find the best activities and the right balance for you. Finding something you enjoy doing is important so you can continue for life!

It's usually best to increase the amount of exercise you do gradually.

If a particular activity causes your joints to become warm and swollen, or it causes severe pain, then stop and rest. If it does not cause problems, then it is fine to continue.

High-impact activities, including contact sports like rugby and football, are more likely to cause problems.

Try low-impact activities that put less strain on your joints, such as swimming, cycling, walking and aqua aerobics.

Strengthening exercises such as squats or free weights are safe to do and are beneficial

If you need more guidance, physiotherapists can advise you on suitable types of exercise. You can ask you GP to refer you to a local NHS physiotherapist or we can refer you to physiotherapy in the hospital if this cannot be accommodated in the community.

Source NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/living-with/

Useful links:

VERSUS ARTHRITIS– Exercises for Healthy Joints

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/exercise/exercises-to-manage-pain/

NRAS – Exercise

https://nras.org.uk/resource/exercise/

NASS – Exercise

https://nass.co.uk/managing-my-as/exercise/

NASS – Exercise Videos

https://nass.co.uk/managing-my-as/my-as-my-life/exercise/

NASS – Back to Action Exercise Programme

https://nass.co.uk/managing-my-as/exercise/back-to-action-exercise-programme/

NHS – Exercise

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/