RA Exercise: How Much Is Enough?

Have you ever heard the phrase "Start off small and work your way up"? That's a good way to think about physical activity when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

How much you benefit from an RA fitness plan is a combination of how much time and how much effort you put into it. This means how hard and how long you work. Just remember, always talk to your doctor or nurse before starting any new kind of physical activity.

If you have not been physically active for a while, starting off slow is definitely your goal. Begin with low-intensity exercises for short periods of time until you get used to what you're doing and your body adapts to being more active. When you feel comfortable with a low-intensity exercise, you may be able to increase to a more moderate level of intensity and work out for longer periods of time.

Moderate-intensity exercise means that you are breathing a little harder, your heart is beating a little faster, and you're warmer than usual. However, you should be able to carry on a normal conversation. You may feel that you could continue the activity for about 30 minutes. On a scale of 1 to 10, your effort level should be about a 5.

This is only a suggested guideline. Speak with your doctor to find out what your low-intensity or moderate-intensity activities should be. Explore the My RA Fit Kit to build a free, personalized RA fitness program.