Many people with rheumatoid arthritis avoid exercise for fear that it may make their arthritis worse. While it may be hard to exercise with arthritis, staying as active as possible has actually been shown to reduce pain and improve symptoms. This is because our bodies are designed to move. Rheumatoid arthritis, which affects approximately 400,000 adults in the United Kingdom and more than 1.3 million people in the United States, is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints due to inflammation. Muscle weakness and fatigue are also commonly reported symptoms. People may also experience flare-ups, which are periods when their symptoms become worse. Although there’s no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are many treatments available, such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. These ease symptoms, slow the condition’s progress, and reduce joint pain and inflammation. Lifestyle changes may also be recommended—including changing diet or attending physiotherapy, which can …