People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often face such symptoms as joint pain and stiffness, and the thought of exercising can be intimidating. Many people avoid exercise because they’re afraid it might lead to more pain, or that it could trigger a flare. The reality is that exercise can improve mobility and help ease pain for most people with RA.

“Exercise is the best thing we can do for our bodies,” one myRAteam member wrote. However, another said, “I hear a lot about exercising, but how do you exercise with pain and stiffness all over your body?”

To find out more about this topic, myRAteam sat down with Dr. Iris Navarro-Millán, a rheumatologist and assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

Exercise Helps Prevent Stiffness

“One of the things that exercise is really good at is preventing more stiffness,” Dr. Navarro-Millán said. “The way that we can keep our joints stable is by making the muscles around joints strong so that our muscles will protect our joints from damage and further injuries. We also want to make sure our joints aren’t too tight, and that’s why a combination of stretching and strengthening exercise is very important.”

Exercise won’t replace the treatment plan your doctors have created, but it can be an effective supplement to that plan. “A combination of the treatment and medications that your doctors might be giving you, alongside exercise and stretching, can alleviate pain and stiffness. So you don't want to tackle joint pain only with medications — you also want to do your own part,” she said.

She stresses the importance of talking to your doctor before trying any new exercise program. Work with them on the exercise plan that would be best for you.

Consider Daily Exercises When Possible

Dr. Navarro-Millán recommends exercising daily when possible, because the benefits of exercise build up over time. For people with rheumatoid arthritis, not only does exercise lead to improved function, but it can also help reduce fatigue, ease depression, and help maintain muscle mass.

The one exception to daily exercise involves people who are experiencing active flares, or worsening of their symptoms. “I do not recommend exercising if you’re having a flare,” Dr. Navarro-Millán said. “If you are flaring, hold on, listen to your body, and wait while you heal from your flare, and then go back to your exercise routine. It is important to go back to exercise after your flare from arthritis has resolved, because exercising can prevent the intensity and the frequency of those flares in the future.”

Low-Impact Exercises May Work Best

To get the benefits of exercise, you don’t need to push yourself hard or even join a gym. In fact, as Dr. Navarro-Millán explained, you can perform daily stretches and strengthening exercises while seated. You can use household items, such as cans of vegetables for weights and a belt for leverage. “I always tell my patients that the worst exercise is the one that is not done, so even if you can only do five repetitions, doing something is a lot better than doing nothing,” she said.

Even if exercising feels invigorating at first, be careful not to push yourself too hard during your workouts, Dr. Navarro-Millán noted. Start slowly, and listen to your body.

“If you're hurting while you’re actually doing the exercises, you may want to take it easy or stop for a little while. If you need more advice, ask your doctor for a referral to physical therapy so you can have a formal assessment about whether your reaction to the exercise is because of your joint pain, or if it’s because of your exercise — and those are very important things to know,” she said.

Keep in mind that once you start exercising, you may be a little bit slower the next day or the day after. That’s why it's also important to stretch properly before and after you work out and to stay hydrated. “You may feel a little bit of soreness, but it should not be something that limits your ability to do your activities of daily living,” Dr. Navarro-Millán said. “It may be uncomfortable, but it should not feel injured.”

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myRAteam, over 151,000 people living with rheumatoid arthritis come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with RA.

Have you found exercises that help ease your joint pain? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.