Rheumatoid arthritis treatment: is exercise a game changer?

Abstract

It is known that physical activity and exercise have many effects on patients with rheumatoid arthritis, such as reducing pain, stiffness, and fatigue and having positive effects on the development of complications related to the disease. However, despite all this information, the level of exercise and physical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is lower than in healthy individuals. This may be due to reasons such as thinking that the disease will worsen, not having enough information about exercises, and not being supported enough by healthcare professionals and family in this regard. This review summarized the basic effects of exercises and recommended exercise programs.