Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that is also classified as an autoimmune disorder. This means that the nervous system sends errant messages to the immune cells to attack the body’s own joint tissues.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include painful swelling, stiffness and deformities of the joints, most commonly in the hands, wrists and feet; typically, joints on both sides of the body are affected. Treatment programs usually center on medications to control the symptoms and stop or slow the progressive joint damage; exercise may also be included to help the patient retain strength and mobility.

Listed below are peer reviewed articles on rheumatoid arthritis.

Done safely, regular aerobic exercise helps reduce the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. This is particular important because RA can have negative impact on heart and lung health.
Rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, C-reactive protein, anti-nuclear antibody, erythrocyte sedimentation, and the 14-3-3η (eta) protein are all biological markers of rheumatoid arthritis that can be detected in the blood and aid in getting a diagnosis.
Learn four ways exercise can help relieve the symptoms and long-term effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Guidelines getting enough exercise—and what to do if exercise is too painful—are also included on this page.

These gentle stretches can help east morning joint stiffness caused by rheumatoid arthritis. These stretches are designed for the wrists, elbows, shoulders, feet, ankles, knees and hips. Stretching can help you loosen up joints, get blood flow moving, and maintain mobility.

These four hand exercises are designed to help people with rheumatoid arthritis improve dexterity and strength in their fingers, thumbs, and wrists. Doing them regularly may make it easier to grip, pinch, and hold objects.

Certain joints in the hand are especially susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Inflammation, swelling, and stiffness occur in the knuckles and wrists when the immune system attacks a synovial joint’s delicate membrane.

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