Physiotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain, swelling and stiffness in several joints, often with symptoms that vary from day to day. A physiotherapist assesses your movement, grip, walking pattern, strength and the tasks that matter to you. The plan may include gentle range-of-motion work, gradual strengthening, pacing, posture advice and ways to reduce strain on swollen joints. During a flare, the focus may shift toward comfortable movement, rest breaks and protecting the joint rather than pushing through pain.

Treatment does not replace medicines that control inflammation. It works alongside your rheumatology plan and can be adjusted when finger stiffness, hand swelling or morning joint stiffness changes.

Keep exercises within a manageable effort and follow the repetitions and rest pattern your clinician gives you. Warm up with slow movements, use supportive equipment when recommended and divide demanding chores into smaller tasks. A therapist may show you how to change a grip, use a splint or choose joint-friendly ways to lift and open containers. Record which activities increase pain or swelling later, because delayed symptoms can help refine the programme.

Do not stop prescribed anti-inflammatory medication or alter it because exercise feels helpful. Bring changes in joint pain, joint stiffness or joint swelling to the clinician managing your rheumatoid arthritis.

Contact your healthcare team if a joint becomes newly hot, markedly swollen or difficult to move, or if symptoms are worsening instead of settling with the agreed plan. Seek urgent help for severe weakness, a sudden loss of function, chest pain, breathing difficulty or a fever with a very painful swollen joint. These features need medical assessment rather than a harder exercise session.

Which movements should I prioritise for my affected joints? How should I modify exercises during a flare? Would a splint, walking aid or hand-function assessment help with my routine? What changes in swelling or morning symptoms should prompt a review?