Regular exercise has long been established as an efficient method of maintaining and improving one’s health and wellbeing. On a general note, it enhances health, helps prevent illnesses, and provides diverse benefits to different body parts simultaneously.

It usually has a reserved spot in the treatment program of many types of diseases, especially during the recovery and rehabilitation period. However, considering that the body is pumped up during physical activity, it may appear alarming to employ a generally strenuous weight training routine as part of treatment programs for particularly fragile conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Fortunately, a recently conducted research proves that employing such means is anything but illogical. A deeper understanding on the effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis holds the key.  Joints are not the only parts that cause suffering: Muscle loss and strength reduction largely contribute to patients’ disability.

Understanding the “Muscle” side of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Affecting almost half a million UK residents and even more on a worldwide scale, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a widespread and debilitating disease.

It is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune and progressive disorder, wherein the immune system is compelled to respond antagonistically towards the joints, which thus lead to their breakdown or destruction. The usually affected areas are the middle joints found in the wrist and fingers. Stiffness, joint pain, and deformities characterize the disorder. Furthermore, it can render a person less capable of doing routine daily activities such as walking, climbing, carrying things —  engagements that basically enable him to lead an independent life. Statistics show that after a decade, less than half of its sufferers are able to regain their capacity to engage in their former daily functions and activities.

However, it does not only impose negative impact on joints. It also has potential effects on the eyes, lungs, and bone marrow. Furthermore, it also causes muscle loss and weakened strength levels, which provides a more comprehensive picture as to why the lifestyle of patients is likely restricted and debilitated to an extensive degree.

The insight into the disease’s damaging effects on muscles logically paves way for the need to employ exercise as an efficient treatment method.

Favorable Effects of Regular Weight Training

According to Dr. Andrew Lemmey, the leader of the recent study conducted to assess the effects of regular weight training on patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, given the role of muscle loss in contributing to the patient’s worsening disability, restoring muscle logically translates to strength and function restoration.

The study’s results substantially confirmed the claim. Funded by Arthritis Research UK, the study aimed to test the efficiency of weight training in restoring muscle mass and functions in patients. It involved 28 patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, mostly women around 50 years of age, which participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and were split into two groups. For 24 weeks, one group engaged in standard home exercise routines; while the other group underwent regular weight training, which proves to be more strenuous. Results showed that those who underwent weight training had enhanced their physical functioning capacities by approximately 30 percent. Furthermore, their strength rose to an impressive rate of 120 percent. High intensity training also caused an increase in certain factors that encourage muscle, bone, and cartilage growth: Insulin-like growth factors, and insulin-like growth binding protein 3.

The Need for Careful Measures

Even patients who have been suffering from the disorder for a decade showed improvement. After training, their physical functions and strength improved, which thus enabled them to function in the same league or even better than healthier women from the same age bracket.

However, weight training may not be appropriate for every person that suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis. This warrants the need to discuss weight training plans with personal physiologists, in order to assess whether one is up for the sweat or not. While engaging in routines, people should strike a balance between exercise and rest; and must be wary of weight training activities that worsen joint pains.

Regardless, the physically able, motivated, and qualified proved to reap the fruits of experiencing Rheumatoid Arthritis relief, and increased functional capacity.

Beyond Sweating: Other Natural and Homemade Remedies

Because natural treatments yield optimal results for relieving RA pain without incurring medication-induced and chemical side effects, and are significantly less costly than prescription drugs; it is fortunate news for patients that there are several natural and homemade remedies to choose from, or to use simultaneously. Other remedies can also be used to supplement the favorable effects of regular weight training, in order to maximize results and heighten chances of strength restoration.

Several supplements aid in restoring and maintaining bone strength, reducing inflammatory activity in the joint, and in halting bone loss. These include Bromelain, Calcium, Silica, and Omega-3 fatty acids. One case in point: Fish oils are capable of reducing RA symptoms because of their richness in Omega 3 fatty acids. As such, these are able to provide the body with vitamin A that has anti-inflammatory effects; and Vitamin D, which helps bones to grow healthily. Supplements containing Shea tree extracts, coming from an African-indigenous tree, also lower cartilage breakdown and inflammatory activity that are caused by the body’s autoimmune response.

Herbs also play a significant role in providing anti-inflammatory effects. Studies show that white willow bark and feverfew, which contain anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, are among the most effective ones. Furthermore, combining these during a single use promises a stronger and better outcome in reducing pain and inflammation.

Simple homemade efforts may also discard the prospect of purchasing arthritis medications, because they can be effective by themselves. These include applying cold or hot compress to the area with arthritis pain.

The operative point is that, despite its debilitating effects, patients can put up a good fight in treating, and in aiding Rheumatoid Arthritis relief through employing natural and healthy means. With natural remedies, patients can possibly restore the functional, satisfying life they once lived; and this does not even warrant them to shell out impractical amounts of money for prescription drugs or medications, which can add more or newer problems compared to the solutions they provide.

Sources
natural-homeremedies.com
naturalhealthontheweb.com
ayushveda.com