A rheumatoid arthritis exercise regimen may be the last thing on your mind when you are tired and your joints ache, but it may be just what you need to ease pain and improve your energy level.
Studies show that regular rheumatoid arthritis exercise may help reduce joint pain and stiffness, increase joint mobility and muscle strength and improve psychological well-being. Regular exercise can also help reduce your risk of other health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes, which can accompany rheumatoid arthritis.
Before beginning an exercise program, it’s important to speak with your doctor or physical therapist to find an appropriate exercise program for you. Ideally, your rheumatoid arthritis diet exercise program would include aerobic exercise to strengthen your heart and lungs, strengthening exercises to make your muscles stronger so they can better support your joints, and stretching exercises to keep your muscles flexible and joints moving freely. One form of exercise almost anyone with arthritis can do is water exercise. Local chapters of the Arthritis Foundation offer a warm-water Aquatic Exercise program. Click here to find a program near you.
If you haven’t been active for a while, start slowly and do whatever you can at first. As you become stronger and your endurance increases, you will be able to exercise longer and more strenuously.
It’s also important to pay attention to your body. If a particular joint is actively inflamed, give that joint a rest, but continue to exercise. And while it’s natural to experience some muscle soreness following a workout, increased joint pain may mean you’re working too hard and need to scale back your exercise routine.
Exercising with Rheumatoid Arthritis
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diane jeffrey
27 Jun 2010, 16:34
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| I have RA and was told by the doctor i needed to take steriod injections and Methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug, i have refused this as i dont see the point when they tell me its incurable and these drugs can cause serious life threatening side effects, i went on a starch based diet, eating no meat,dairy,oils,tomatoes,wheat..ok thats alot but i have no inflammation or pain, only slightly swollen fingers, compared to wot i had, i am over the moon and doing weights and cyclying twice weekly..check out www.drmcdougall.com to see many others who have cured their arthritis with diet..good luck.. |
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Agela
16 Jun 2010, 01:22
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| I was diagnosed with RA 9 years ago. At age 35 now I am unable to continue
to cook professionally due to the stress on my body-even when under my
doctors' care. Whenever I have a cold and can't take my meds I take a tumeric pill-found at health food stores and Whole Foods markets. It's helped a bit during the in-between times. |
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angela
22 May 2010, 23:47
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| Hi, my name is angela and i was diagnosed just a few days ago. im 38 yrs old and i have three kids and one grandbaby who i love with all of my heart. i was reading online about a lady who has RA like we do and she has found a vitamin drink called limu moui i think that is what it is called not sure on the second word but the first word is called limu. it is a health drink that you drink morning and in the evening and it helps restore your immune system and it gives it what is need to help fight off disease that are tackling our bodies. so the web sight is called www.findinglimumoui.com if that is not it you can always search the word and u will find it. i will pray for everyone on here and i hope u do the same for me. |
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Anabel
06 May 2010, 08:15
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| I was diagnosed with RA at 30, I'm 38 now. No insurance and in alot of pain. Can't afford to go to a rheumatologist, get on meds or any of that. Also, I'm about 30lbs overweight. Depressed, tired and feel helpless. |
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The Editors
04 Mar 2010, 11:43
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| Hello Tamara, To see fitness moves geared toward those who have arthritis, please visit our "Exercises Videos and Photos" in our Fitness section. Click the "Exercise Videos and Photos" link under the "Fitness" tab above, or simply cut and paste this link into your Web browser window: http://www.arthritistoday.org/fitness/exercise-videos-and-photos/index.php Thanks, The Editors Arthritis Today |
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Tamara
03 Mar 2010, 17:45
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| I was diagnosed with RA when I was 10 years old. I am now 50. I have been
in remission for that long. It is now comming back starting in my lower
back. I joined a gym and they had a program set up for me which helped
alot. I even did the slower circut like Curves and that even helped. You
just need to keep moving. I quit doing exercise because of thing happening
in my life but that was a mistake now I can hardly stand for too long. Is there a web site that has exercises we can do for RA on our own, cause I dont have money to join a gym. Thanks |
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Ashley Jacob
17 Jan 2010, 10:57
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| Hey guys, I'm a personal trainer and training someone with RA. Just to give you some other ideas about exercising with RA, try using ankle weights so that you don't have to grip. Strap them on your ankles and wrists. There are so many exercises you can do without working with dumbbells so that you don't exacerbate your pain you already do have. Depending on your limitations, exercises you can do are limited: chest press, shoulder press, scaption, bicep curl, tricep kickbacks, hip abduction, straight leg raises, etc. Hope this helps and good luck! |
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katie
02 Jan 2010, 14:08
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| I was diagnosed with RA last year when I was 18. Its really hard I feel like I can't be a normal teenager. I'm constantly in pain and never have motivation to do anything. I'm in college now and my grades are horrible because I can't get out of bed. I feel like its ruining my life I can't even hold my Does anyone know low-impact exercises I can do. I can't run or lift weights because of my ankles and shoulders. |
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Abbey
14 Dec 2009, 17:28
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| I'm 24 and very new to RA. I'm going to try a blood group type diet. A+
blood means deleting meat and dairy - not ideal!! If it slows progression
then I'll try anything plus, it'll make me lose the extra weight which
mustn't be helping my joints either. I've been doing yoga in a 38degree
room and going to start swimming again. I'm being optimistic that changes to my lifestyle will prevent further progression. |
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Carla Nixon
27 Oct 2009, 11:49
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| I have had RA for about 3 years now. I had to get on a plane and travel 1 hour to go to my docctor, I took every medicine that was prescribed and only to have relief for a while. I have gained 92lbs. I went to prayer meeting one night at my local church and I made a covenant with God, I told Him that I would trust him for my healing. I went home that night and trew away every prescription drug that I owned. I do't know how, but I believe God has healed my body. I am having swelling in my index finger but no pain, only pain in my left foot, and aches in my body, but nothing I can't handle. I am now looking for ways to take off the weight that I have gained, and with Gods help I will. i just want to encourge someone to trust God with everthing in your life. The bible say that we have a High Priest that feels our infirmity. |
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Judy Stabler
21 Oct 2009, 23:18
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| I have had RA all my adult life - I'm over 55 now. Thanks to going vegetarian in my 30's, and finding a pool wherever I live, I have been able earn MA in psych, teach, and then work as a social worker. I still get minor flareups when life throws stress and fatigue at me, but I bounce back. Right now, I go to the Easter Seals Therapy pool twice week to do an hour of my own aerobics routine. The warm water allows me to flex muscles and joints that I cannot do out of the water, and it's fun. Without that, I would have stiffened up during flareups, but I am remarkably flexible. Plus - many of the same people are there every week, so it is a huge part of my social life! |
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Advocate
17 Oct 2009, 19:45
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| If you looked into Occupational Therapy, you would find they have many ways of dealing with problems associated with RA.. If you look in your area many therapy companies offer Occupational Therapy through home health to avoid missed hours at work. |
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LISA
12 Sep 2009, 18:43
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| I was diagnosed with RA several years ago. My feet, legs & hands were majorly swollen. I could barley walk. I was in so much paid that I cried. I am currently taking medicine several times a day. If the pain is bad, I will take arthritis Tylenol. If that doesn't help, I will take oxycodine which is 325/5 mg. The pain will go away for a while. Sometimes I will have to get the cortisone shots which may help for several months. I am 4'11". I weight over 125lbs. I am always asking my RA doctor if I;m too heavy, but he says no. He said my weight does not have anything to do with the pain. It is all the RA. I'm always asking if it will get better. Unfortunately he says no. It will only get worse. At one time he suggested I get therapy. If I did, I would have to miss work. Please advise. |
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jamil
06 Sep 2009, 16:18
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| what kind of execises should i do except swimming because it is not possible here |
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Mercy
15 Jun 2009, 10:28
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| I was diagnosed with RA on 1983, at age 35. I have been through a lot of
different prescriptions drugs, and almost all DMARDS. There is light at
the end of a tunnel...Four years ago I have total replacement in my knees,
one first the other three months after. Everything goes very well, I
highly recommend anyone try to make the difficult decision to have
surgery to research his/her area doctors and facility,make accommodations
in the house & prepared before the surgery (vitamins & exercise) and put
body and mind into the recovery. Right at age 63, I am active I do
aquatic exercise 4 o 5 times a week, walk in the mall (for long time I was
in a scooter even inside my home). I am on biologic injection once a week and only take over the counter pain medicine once in a while. I have regain control of my life and my hands are deformed as a reminder of my RA but I am calling the shots not the RA. Only faith and good medical care will help with RA. |
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Karen
14 Jun 2009, 18:31
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| I was diagnosed 17 years ago with RA. As an elementary PE teacher I always have been very active, but for the past 2 years my knees have made it difficult for me to do my job well, even at all in some aspects. I enjoy the Arthritis Foundation's Tai Chi classes, but I know my aerobic capacity is diminishing and I have gained weight. I love to hike but this summer I really don't think I can handle it. We have resorted to cortisone treatments, but they only last a few months. I think it is time to consider knee replacements, but I am only 54. Should I be in worse shape to be considering surgery? I want my life back while I am still young enough to enjoy being active! |
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Debby
13 Jun 2009, 13:10
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| I've had RA for about 15 years and in 2008 had breast cancer. Prior to BC I
practiced yoga for 5 years and it definitely helps improve mobility and
positive thinking. Due to my lowered immunity from RA the BC was a long
healing process. But, I'm back to work now but haven't felt the motivation
to get back in the gym or yoga classes. I absolutely believe in the power
of exercise for RA and look forward to finding my physical strength again
! Good luck everyone and KEEP MOVING ! |
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Tracy Price
11 Jun 2009, 20:23
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| I have arthritis in my spine and slowly moving through my body. After 4 surgeries in a 2 year span I moved to a yoga program. I go to a yoga class 2 times a week and It has helped more than any meds I have taken. I still have a hard time getting out of bed and sometimes I can hardly think of going to yoga class but everytime after I make it through the class I feel 95% better. I have my flexability back and I am much stronger. |
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Julie
11 Jun 2009, 11:54
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| Hi, glad I found this sight. It helps to know that there are others out there with the same type of problems. I have not had a definite diagnosis of RA but all of the symptoms I have are just like all of the others that people have. I am on two DMARDS and one biologic and they have helped but I still have joint stiffness and pain sometimes. Some days I am fine then others I can hardly get out of bed. Thanks for listening. |
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Jodi
11 Jun 2009, 10:38
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| I have had Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis for several years. The pain, stiffness and being overweight led me to have a sedentary lifestyle except when I am at work. I recently began Aqua therapy in a heated pool with a physical therapist on the advice and encouragement of my PCP and Rheumatologist. I will admit that I was totally sceptical about the possibility of success. In just three weeks I am exercising in the water for an hour straight twice a week and only having a slight increase in pain afterwards. I am going up steps much more quickly, I can go shopping after working a 9 hour day, plus many things I haven't been able to do in years. I would strongly encourage even those who are in a lot of pain with stiffness to try it. It really works and I am hoping to someday be able to graduate to " land " exercises, something I never thought I could ever do again. |
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Bill
06 Jun 2009, 16:10
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| The main location of my arthritis is in my hands, especially my right hand. I can clench my left tightly, but my right only somewhat, so cannot get a strong grip with it. I suspect it cannot be corrected, but is it possible to slow down its progress? |
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PATRICIA
24 May 2009, 16:23
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| I HAME RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF BED I WISH I COULD FINE SOME KIND OF MED TO HELP ME |
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How I Lost Thirty Pounds in Thirty Days
28 Apr 2009, 23:23
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| Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me! |
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heather
14 Apr 2009, 13:34
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| Is Yoga a good way to exercise at home? I have joined a gym that offers water aerobics, as well as all of the typical machines found in most gyms and other aerobic classes. So far, I have used the pool a few times and it does seem to help, and i also use the elliptical for 15 - 25 minutes at a time. I am currently overweight as I was when first diagnosed 2 yrs ago and am also monitoring my diet. Is there any other advice you can offer? |
said I have it in every joint in my body. I have been on a leat 3 or 4 different RA meds. Some helped some didn't, but they took a toll on me, they really lowered or killed my imune system and now I'm sick all the time. I usually don't go more than 3 or 4 weeks being off of anitbotics. My doctors have put me on steroids many times in the past two years, I've gained a ton of weight.
My RA doctor took me off all RA meds when he got mad cause I was always sick when I saw him. I finally fired back at him my regular doctor and pharmist said it's lowered or killed my imune system. I've not been on any RA meds for one year. I'm having flare ups but I just take my IBU