To Exercise or Not: Is Regular Exercise Good for Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis?

Inflammatory arthritis, encompassing rheumatic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, poses unique challenges to individuals living with these conditions. When joints are inflamed and painful, the thought of walking or engaging in exercise routines might seem like a bad idea. Patients get concerned about sports injuries or additional damage to the inflamed joints. It is important for patients living with an inflammatory condition to understand the significance of regular exercise, along with medical treatment. It is a crucial component in improving joint health and mitigating the impact of inflammatory arthritis on daily life.

When living with inflammatory arthritis, gradual structural changes in the joint and surrounding tissue can lead to decreased muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility. Incorporating exercise into the routine has shown promising results in enhancing the overall well-being of individuals with this condition.

Benefits of Exercise in Inflammatory Arthritis

• Exercise strengthens the joints and surrounding muscles. When arthritis progresses, our joint apparatus relies on muscles and ligaments surrounding the joints for support and stability. Any exercise designed to improve this strength and stability is quite beneficial for the joints, particularly the core joints such as hips and spine. This improves your ability to walk, stand and run, along with and preventing pain to the knee and ankle joints.
• Exercise improves joint mobility and function. Exercises designed to improve flexibility and range of motion are effective in counteracting stiffness associated with inflammatory arthritis and can improve performance in daily living activities when done regularly.
• Regular exercise offers better pain control. Endorphin release and improved circulation resulting from low impact exercises is known to be helpful in alleviating pain in arthritis patients. For this purpose, it is worth considering yoga, swimming, walking or light jogging.
• Routine physical activity also improves a person’s mood. The same endorphins that are helping with pain relief in inflammatory arthritis are known to enhance mood and improve mental health as well.
• Ongoing exercise can result in weight loss. Reducing strain on the joints by losing weight is also known to be beneficial in managing inflammatory arthritis. In addition, excess body fat produces and releases a variety of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors that can negatively impact affected joints. By managing a healthy weight, individuals can significantly decrease this additional inflammatory burden and help medications work better.

What Type of Exercises Are Safe and Beneficial for Inflammatory Arthritis?

• First and foremost, low-impact aerobic exercises are recommended. These types of exercises promote overall fitness and are less likely to cause exacerbation of arthritis symptoms.
• Strength training of specific muscle groups; in particular, resistance training or light weights focusing on larger supporting joints such as hips, shoulders, knees and spine.
• Stretching and range of motion exercises such as yoga and tai chi are great for promoting flexibility and improving balance. These types of exercises are excellent for prevention of stiffness and improving joint mobility.

In conclusion, exercise is a valuable and often underutilized tool to manage arthritis. Incorporating a well-rounded exercise routine tailored to individual abilities and preferences can significantly contribute to improved joint function, reduced pain, and enhanced overall well-being. It is important to consult your treating rheumatologist and consider evaluation by physical medicine and rehab specialist before starting any exercise program to ensure that the chosen activities are safe and suitable for your specific condition.