Best exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis you must know about

Posted By Suborna Fermi Posted on May 28, 2025

Autoimmune diseases are typical conditions in which an individual’s immune system behaves abnormally and starts attacking the body cells that it’s supposed to keep protected. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and it causes intense pain. Although this condition can be detected accurately through an arthritis profile test, it’s necessary to know about the importance of exercise for people who are suffering from this condition. People who have this condition and exercise regularly may be able to manage the pain more effectively than the people who have this condition but don’t exercise.

It can be truly difficult to get enough motivation for exercise with painful stiff joints. However, proper exercise while dealing with these critical health conditions can surely help you reduce the amount of pain you are going through. It is a fact that people with rheumatoid arthritis are at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Proper exercise won’t just help you manage your pain, it will also help you reduce the risk of facing cardiovascular diseases. Some of the most effective exercises for rheumatoid arthritis are mentioned below for you.

7 best exercises for rheumatoid arthritis

• Stretching: Stretching can effectively improve the flexibility of your body, therefore, reduces stiffness. Stretching of your hands, elbows and knees gently and holding each stretch for 20-30 seconds is important.
• Pilates: Pilates are low-impact exercises and it’s quite similar to yoga and tai chi. This particular type of exercise can activate core muscles and improve joint health by enhancing flexibility.
• Cycling: Cycling is also a low-impact exercise but it contributes to joint health. Riding a bicycle around your locality for a specific time period everyday will help you improve your joint health as well as your cardiovascular health.
• Tai chi: It’s a traditional Chinese martial art technique that involves gentle movements of body parts followed by strong mental focus. Although it sounds easy and simple, it may help to improve muscle function and reduce pain.
• Water exercises: Water aerobics and swimming do not impact the joints heavily as they support body weight by reducing the effects of gravitation. However, water exercises can also be beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Apart from all these, low-stress activities like gardening or just walking in the park may also contribute to joint health. However, people with rheumatoid arthritis are always recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible and get proper therapies and medications before this condition takes a serious turn. Getting this disease detected is also easier than ever as an arthritis test cost is truly reasonable nowadays.