II. Lifestyle Guidelines

  1. Sitting, standing and stair climbing

III. Aerobic Exercise Guidelines

  1. Examples: Walking, water walking, or stationary cycle
  2. Daily low intensity Exercise with increasing duration
  3. Start with 10 minutes of Exercise
  4. Advance in 5 minute increments up to 30 minutes

IV. Progressive Resistance Training Guidelines

  1. Start with low repetitions of low weight
  2. Slowly increase to 12 repetitions 2-3 times weekly
  3. Pain should guide increase

V. Flexibility Training Guidelines

  1. Pain-free range of motion

VI. Precautions

  1. Avoid repetitive, high intensity use of unstable joints
  2. Adjust Exercise time to least symptoms
    1. Avoid morning Exercise in Rheumatoid Arthritis
    2. Avoid Exercise during Arthritis flares
  3. Modify/stop an Exercise that causes adverse effects
    1. Persistent Fatigue or weakness
    2. Joint inflammation lasting >1 hour post-Exercise

VII. References

  1. Whaley (2006) ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise

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