Can individuals with rheumatoid arthritis incorporate various exercises to reduce joint pain and inflammation in their hands and feet?
Table of Contents
The joints in the human help provide function, mobility, and flexibility to the upper and lower extremities. The joints are part of the musculoskeletal system and have an outstanding relationship with the muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues that give the body structure and support that lets the individual move around and protects the important organs to function normally. However, when a person is dealing with injuries or illnesses that affect the body’s musculoskeletal function, it can cause pain to the individual. One of the symptoms that often correlate in the joints is chronic inflammation, leading to the development of an autoimmune disease known as rheumatoid arthritis. Today’s article looks at how rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints in the musculoskeletal system and how various exercises can help manage and reduce the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. We discuss with certified associated medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess rheumatoid arthritis and its associated pain symptoms affecting the joints. We also inform and guide patients while asking their associated medical provider intricate questions to integrate various exercises into their personalized treatment plan to manage the pain correlated with rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Do you feel pain and tenderness in your joints affecting your daily routine? Do you experience stiffness first thing in the morning, and it goes away throughout the day? Or do you feel fatigued throughout the day, even after a good night’s sleep? Many individuals with these symptoms could be dealing with early development of rheumatoid arthritis in their joints. Now, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that affects the body’s joints but is more prominent on the hands, wrists, and feet. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can develop early or slowly depending on the environmental factors contributing to the development. Since rheumatoid arthritis is categorized as a systemic autoimmune disease, genetic and environmental risk factors that can contribute to rheumatoid arthritis development can trigger overlapping risk profiles on the joints. (Jang et al., 2022) When a person is dealing with the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, one of the key pain symptoms that can affect the joints drastically is inflammation. Inflammation is associated with rheumatoid arthritis; it is reflected by joint pain, leading to swelling and subsequent destruction of the cartilage and bone. (Scherer et al., 2020) This causes many individuals to be in constant pain and prevents them from doing any activities.
Additionally, when a few joints are being affected by rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages, some of the symptoms include:
However, when rheumatoid arthritis reaches the later stages in the joints, the autoantigens that are specific to rheumatoid arthritis can lead to a self-perpetuating chronic inflammatory state on the joints, thus causing an expansion on the periarticular bone at the cartilage-bone junction, leading to bone erosion and cartilage degradation. (Lin et al., 2020) Luckily, there are therapeutic options to reduce the pain and inflammatory effects of rheumatoid arthritis and help manage the symptoms that are affecting the joints.
When it comes to reducing the inflammatory effects of rheumatoid arthritis, many individuals can seek out therapeutic options to restore mobility, function, and flexibility. Many individuals can incorporate various physical activities to relieve stress on the inflamed tissues while slowing the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. (Radu & Bungau, 2021) When people with rheumatoid arthritis incorporate various physical activities, they can include a healthy diet and nutrition to suppress pro-inflammatory effects associated with rheumatoid arthritis, help provide symptomatic improvement, and restore bodily function to the joints. (Gioia et al., 2020)
When people with rheumatoid arthritis start exercising as part of their personalized treatment, it can have beneficial properties as they can help with the following:
The main priority of incorporating exercises to reduce rheumatoid arthritis is choosing gentle exercises on the person’s joints while providing enough movement to keep the body flexible and strong. Below are some exercises to reduce rheumatoid arthritis.
Range of motion exercises can help maintain normal joint function by improving flexibility and reducing stiffness for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. Some examples include:
Strength training can help build the surrounding muscles around the joints. This allows many individuals with rheumatoid arthritis to provide better support and reduce stress on the joints. Some examples include:
Water-based exercises provide resistance without impact on the joints, making it ideal for those with rheumatoid arthritis. The water helps cushion the joints by easing the stiffness, building strength, and helping relax sore muscles. Some examples of water-based exercises include:
It is important to remember that when exercising with rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to always start with a gentle warm-up and always end with a cool down to prepare the muscles and joints when beginning to exercise. Another thing to remember is to stay consistent and modify when needed. This allows many individuals to listen to their bodies and modify exercises to avoid pain and discomfort. Incorporating exercises is highly effective in reducing rheumatoid arthritis activity as it can help enhance the body’s immune function and help manage the inflammatory response associated with rheumatoid arthritis. (Li & Wang, 2022)
Gioia, C., Lucchino, B., Tarsitano, M. G., Iannuccelli, C., & Di Franco, M. (2020). Dietary Habits and Nutrition in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Can Diet Influence Disease Development and Clinical Manifestations? Nutrients, 12(5). doi.org/10.3390/nu12051456
Jang, S., Kwon, E. J., & Lee, J. J. (2022). Rheumatoid Arthritis: Pathogenic Roles of Diverse Immune Cells. Int J Mol Sci, 23(2). doi.org/10.3390/ijms23020905
Li, Z., & Wang, X. Q. (2022). Clinical effect and biological mechanism of exercise for rheumatoid arthritis: A mini review. Front Immunol, 13, 1089621. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1089621
Lin, Y. J., Anzaghe, M., & Schulke, S. (2020). Update on the Pathomechanism, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Cells, 9(4). doi.org/10.3390/cells9040880
Radu, A. F., & Bungau, S. G. (2021). Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Overview. Cells, 10(11). doi.org/10.3390/cells10112857
Scherer, H. U., Haupl, T., & Burmester, G. R. (2020). The etiology of rheumatoid arthritis. J Autoimmun, 110, 102400. doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2019.102400
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The information herein on "Improve Mobility with These Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
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