Healthy Living

Working Out With Rheumatoid Arthritis

The importance of being careful

One of the studies did find that some people experienced worsening joint damage with exercise, especially of the larger joints. Though overall, experts still recommend daily exercise including aerobics and strength training, people with rheumatoid arthritis need to be careful with any problematic joints that they have. Because of this, exercises should be tailored to each patient’s needs, ideally discussed with a doctor beforehand. Having a personal trainer who has experience working with people who have joint issues is another good idea as well.

Stretching is the first step all rheumatoid patients should do before engaging in any exercise.

The most important thing to do in preparation for any exercise is to stretch. Stretching helps prepare your body for exercise by activating muscles and joints.  For rheumatoid arthritis, the pre-workout stretch is especially important to help mobilize stiff joints and tense muscles.