How is physical activity linked to arthritis?

Until recently, the common belief about the best treatment for arthritis was rest. Today, experts advocate controlled exercise to promote circulation and relieve inflammation.

Many people with rheumatoid arthritis tend to avoid exercise because they fear that activity will worsen joint pain. However, exercise is one of the key treatments to reduce the disability generally associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Something as simple as physical activity for someone healthy, in the patient with rheumatoid arthritis becomes a challenge, because of its particular joint involvement, but still there is a whole universe of possibilities, where the patient can be instructed to gradually achieve the proposed goals of maintaining joint range and, later, increase their goals once they assimilate the exercise guidelines.

Dr. Alejandro Hijarrubia Cloquel, Physiotherapist and Trainer at PHYSIOLED; mentions that these are the types of physical exercise that a patient with rheumatoid arthritis can perform with the help of a physiotherapist:

Passive exercises: those performed exclusively by the therapist without muscular solicitation by the patient. They work on passive elements: ligaments, articular cartilage.

Active exercises: there is muscular contraction and only the patient acts. They work on the muscles.

Assisted exercises: therapist and patient work together. Mixed work.

Another benefit of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers exercising in a controlled manner is that the substances generated by the brain after physical activity (endorphins) have a well-known anti-inflammatory effect and help us to rest at night, which is very important for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.