Don’t Be Afraid to Exercise with Arthritis
by Bob Curley on July 2, 2010
The painful and debilitating effects of arthritis can make some exercises impossible, but people with arthritis can still benefit from a good cardio workout, researchers say.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who get regular exercise have less joint pain, better functioning, and an improved quality of life, according to a study by researcher Athan Baillet, M.D. The American College of Rheumatology recommends that people with rheumatoid arthritis get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise weekly, such as walking, aerobic dance, or aquatic exercise.
“Our results show that patients with stable RA would benefit from regular aerobic exercise,” Baillet said. “Cardiorespiratory conditioning appears safe and its effects, while small, help to reduce joint pain and improve function … While past studies have indicated that [arthritis] patients are quite physically inactive, our study shows aerobic exercise to be a safe and beneficial intervention for this group.”
The study was published online in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.
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