Rheumatoid Arthritis: Therapy Putty Helps Dexterity, Fine Motor Coordination, Function and Strength in Hands everydayhealth.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from everydayhealth.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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You know you should lift weights to make your muscles stronger and reduce your fatigue. But if you’re like most Americans, you just don’t do it. And if you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you may be worried that strength training might be bad for your joints, or even make pain worse.
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Strength Training: It s All Natural
Experts say that if you have RA, strength training is something you should fully embrace, not back away from. “Exercise is a great anti-inflammatory,” says Gustavo Carbone, MD, a rheumatologist at the University of Miami Health System on Coral Gables, Florida. People with RA constantly ask me about natural things they can take, he says. “Exercise, including strength training, is the best natural thing there is.”
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You might know it as a Swiss ball, a balance ball, a physio ball, or even just an exercise or fitness ball. But this simple round gadget makes a great addition to a home workout, especially for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Stability balls actually got their start among physical therapists (PTs) in Europe (hence the “Swiss ball” nickname), and when they first found use in the United States in the 1980s, they were typically located in physical therapy centers. Only later did the balls find a place in gyms, yoga and Pilates studios, and people’s homes. Stability balls range in size, but they typically measure 2 to 3 feet across and are filled with air.