Activity and everyday movement are an important part of managing inflammatory arthritis alongside your medical treatment. You don't have to do strenuous exercise to benefit – activities such as walking, gardening, housework, cycling or gentle exercises can all help you keep moving and manage your symptoms.
5 ways activity can help manage inflammatory arthritis
1. Reduce stiffness – regular movement helps keep your joints moving and can reduce stiffness, particularly after periods of rest.
2. Help manage pain – staying active can help you manage pain and improve your ability to carry out everyday activities.
3. Maintain joint movement – movement and exercises can help maintain flexibility, mobility and joint function.
4. Keep muscles strong – strengthening exercises help support your joints and make everyday activities easier.
5. Manage fatigue – gradually building activity and fitness can help improve energy levels and reduce the impact of fatigue on daily life.
Every bit of movement counts
Small amounts of activity can make a difference. Take short walks, use the stairs more often, do some regular stretching throughout the day, go swimming, start running, begin gym based exercise. A physiotherapist can give you specific advice if you don't know how to get started.
You can build up your activity gradually and adapt it to what best suits you.
Physical Activity for Inflammatory Arthritis and Useful Resources
There are many different ways of keeping inflammation low in the body. Below are some of the main areas you can look at for managing this. Engaging in exercise or activity on a regular basis has been researched to reduce inflammatory levels. There are many other benefits to regular activity.
Why is activity important for inflammatory arthritis?
Click image for a guide to exercise snacking
Click image for a guide to Staying Active with Inflammatory Arthritis
Click image for a guide to the benefits of stopping smoking and vaping with Inflammatory Arthritis
Stopping smoking or vaping has been researched to reduce inflammatory levels and allow autoimmune medications to be more effective.
Useful resources
National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society
The above link has lots of helpful resources for anyone with an Axial Spondyloarthropathy diagnosis.
Arthritis UK
This link has lots of useful resources for anyone with Inflammatory arthritis.
Looking after your Health and Wellbeing
The above link has lots of useful resources for lifestyle management.
Rheumatology Occupational Therapy
The above link has some useful information for managing your condition.
The above link has lots of helpful resources for anyone with an Axial Spondyloarthropathy diagnosis.
Arthritis UK
This link has lots of useful resources for anyone with Inflammatory arthritis.
Looking after your Health and Wellbeing
The above link has lots of useful resources for lifestyle management.
Rheumatology Occupational Therapy
The above link has some useful information for managing your condition.