Exercise Can Help Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms – Here’s Why

A study published in 2020 found the same thing – that exercising alongside standard treatment helps to improve symptoms. The study looked at 66 people with rheumatoid arthritis, half of whom followed a personalised, three-month exercise programme. Those who exercised had a reduction in inflammation in the blood, and had better hand-grip strength and cardiovascular fitness alongside improved cognition.

Based on all available evidence, it’s recommended that people with rheumatoid arthritis get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity each week. The type of exercise can be anything from brisk walking to cycling. But to see benefits, it’s important this exercise is at least vigorous enough that it leaves you slightly breathless.

Patients should also do a variety of strengthening, stretching and balancing exercises to improve strength and flexibility. Some examples of these include pilates, yoga, or swimming.

There are still many questions that we need to answer – including what type of exercise is best for managing symptoms, and the minimum amount needed to reduce inflammation. We also don’t know what types of exercises are better suited to patients at different stages of the disease. But while researchers continue to search for these answers, we do know that exercise can be used to help improve the lives of sufferers from this debilitating condition.

Matthew Farrow, Lecturer in Anatomy and Musculoskeletal Science, University of Bradford

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the flamante article.