arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercises

Best rheumatoid arthritis exercises can safely supply pain relief and muscle strengths. When joints are firm and painful, exercise might be the last thing on your mind. However, when you have rheumatoid arthritis, exercises in a regular basis are one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself and your joints as well.

There are three types of rheumatoid arthritis exercises that you can do:

  • Stretching exercises – these are the simplest and easiest exercises. They consist of stretching and holding various joint and muscle groups for 10 to 30 seconds each. Improve the flexibility of your muscles by stretching.
  • Strength exercises – it involves working the muscles next to resistance. This can be done either with or without weights. Resistance training strengthens the muscle and boosts the amount of activity that you can do pain-free.
  • Conditioning exercises – or commonly called aerobic exercise, develops cardiovascular fitness. There are countless profits to aerobic exercise. And among them, it can make your heart and blood vessels in good health, prevent disability, and develop mood and psychological well-being.

In some instances, there are also exercises that you should avoid if you have rheumatoid arthritis. In general, you must be careful about activities that put much stress on joints such as:

  • Jogging, most especially on paved roads
  • Lifting heavy weights

A rheumatologist can help you make an exercise program that is right for you. This matter may also involve meeting with a physical therapist. A physical therapist is the one who identifies what areas you require to work on, chooses the right and proper exercises for you, and tells you how energetically you should exercise.

After being cleared by your doctor, you should try to do at least 20-30 minutes of low impact conditioning rheumatoid arthritis exercises on as many days as you feel that you can do it. The more exercise the better than none at all.

When you start doing these rheumatoid arthritis exercises regularly, you’ll come to realize the benefits, and most especially, you will know that you have taken control of your rheumatoid arthritis. Sooner or later, your joints will feel better and you will feel better too.