People with Rheumatoid Arthritis at Higher Risk for Osteoporosis

A pitfall that many RA patients fall into is stopping exercise for fear of having joint pain or injuries. This only makes things worse, especially for your bones. The way that exercise helps your bones is twofold. As described above, moving lets your brain know to strengthen your bones. More exercise will also help you lose weight, which reduces the stress put on your bones when you move. With that in mind, the best exercises for RA patients is anything that puts at least a little stress on your bones. Walking, light jogging, or climbing stairs can all improve the strength of your bones. It would also be useful for RA patients to try and improve their balance and coordination to prevent falls which could lead to bone fractures or injuries. Stretching and yoga will help RA patients have better balance in the long run.