Complications (1)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Lifestyle and home remedies (4)
- Exercising with arthritis: Improve your joint pain and stiffness
- Arthritis pain: Do's and don'ts
- Exercising with arthritis: Improve your joint pain and stiffness
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Treatments and drugs (2)
- Prednisone and other corticosteroids: Balance the risks and benefits
- Arthritis pain relief: Creams and gels for aching joints
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Arthritis pain: Do's and don'ts
Will physical activity help or hinder your arthritis pain? A Mayo Clinic specialist answers this and other common questions about arthritis pain and arthritis symptoms.
By Mayo Clinic staffArthritis pain can be frustrating. And so is sorting through your pain relief options. To help you figure out the best means of relieving your arthritis pain, Gene Hunder, M.D., an emeritus rheumatology specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, answers some commonly asked questions about arthritis pain. Dr. Hunder is an authority on rheumatology and is editor-in-chief of the book "Mayo Clinic Straight Talk On Arthritis."
Will physical activity make your arthritis pain worse?
If you already have joint damage, you can make your arthritis pain worse with activities that are stressful to your joints or that require repetitive motion.
However, if you have only minimal joint damage and most of your symptoms are related to the ligaments, tendons and muscles surrounding your joints — not the joints themselves — a gentle exercise program could improve your arthritis pain. Be sure to include stretching and muscle strengthening in your exercise program.
Work with your doctor to determine the right solution and exercise program for your specific situation. Arthritis varies a great deal from one person to another. Ask your doctor to carefully define the type and extent of your arthritis. Use that information to decide the best approach to your hobbies and activities.
What sorts of activities should generally be avoided, and what types of activities are good for most people with arthritis pain?
Activities that put sudden pressure or stress on involved joints — such as running and playing tennis — are likely to make the symptoms of arthritis in the lower extremities worse and may cause increased swelling and inflammation. Activities that are likely to help include exercises that strengthen your muscles, protect your joints, and reduce stress and joint damage. For example, strengthening the muscles on the front and back of your thigh (quadriceps and hamstrings) helps protect your knee and hip joints. Your doctor might be able to teach you some exercises to increase your muscle strength without abusing your joints.
Do what you can to stay physically active while taking into consideration the condition of your joints. For example, you may be able to walk a mile or more at a comfortable pace with well-fitting, cushioned shoes. But you probably have to give up on high-impact activities — for instance sports such as soccer that involve running — which put a lot of stress on many different joints. If your joints are too painful or damaged to allow an activity such as walking, then swimming or other water exercise may be a better choice for keeping you active and getting toned.
How can you reduce the stiffness and pain that come from sitting for a long time?
Many people with arthritis experience stiffness after sitting or resting, especially if they've used their joints actively before periods of inactivity. Most people with rheumatoid arthritis have stiffness after rest, such as in the morning. These are common symptoms of arthritis. Movement will tend to diminish some of the symptoms.
If you must sit for a long time, adjust your position often to prevent or lessen stiffness. For example, turn your head at different angles, shift the position of your arms, and bend and stretch out your legs. Such slight movements may help prevent excessive stiffness. Many times the stiffness may be worse for a few days after you've used your joint strenuously.
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