Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)


Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that primarily affects the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is often the result of wear and tear on joints, RA is an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, particularly the synovial lining of the joints.


How RA manifest itself:
Inflammation and Pain: RA leads to persistent inflammation in the joints, resulting in pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.

1. Joint Swelling and Deformation: Over time, inflammation can lead to swelling and deformities in the affected joints, particularly in the hands, wrists, and feet.
   
2. Fatigue and Weakness: RA can cause general fatigue and muscle weakness, making physical activities more challenging.
   
3. Limited Range of Motion: The inflammation and stiffness associated with RA can significantly limit a person's range of motion, making certain movements uncomfortable or even impossible.
   
4. Variable Symptoms: RA symptoms can vary greatly from person to person and may flare up or subside over time. Flares can be triggered by a number of things such as stress or illness
   
   
   

RA’s psychological Impact:
Psychological Impact: Chronic pain and physical limitations from RA can also have psychological effects. This may include feelings of frustration, depression, or anxiety, which can be important to acknowledge.

• Exercising will not only work as physical therapy in helping to alleviate symptoms, but it will also have the significant psychological impact of reducing anxiety and depression whilst improving mood and mental well-being
  
• Chronic Nature of RA: RA is a lifelong condition and it’s management and coping strategies are essential for long-term well-being.
  

Supporting Individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a journey filled with unique challenges as RA affects not only the body but also the spirit. Through this guide, we aim to provide tailored strategies and a foundation of understanding. Our goal is to empower individuals with RA to thrive, armed with knowledge and support towards enhanced well-being and a higher quality of life.
In the following paragraphs, we'll explore how reformer Pilates can be a powerful tool in managing RA.


How can physical therapy help:
Physical therapy though a reformer Pilates practice can be highly beneficial for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our goal is to design a customized exercise and treatment plan to address their specific needs and improve overall function. Our focus will be on:

1. Range of Motion (ROM) Exercises: These exercises aim to improve the flexibility and movement of affected joints. They include gentle stretching and controlled joint movements.
   
2. Strengthening Exercises: These exercises help build muscle strength, which can provide support to the joints and improve stability. They often focus on the muscles surrounding affected joints.
   
3. Balance and Coordination Training: These exercises help improve balance and coordination, reducing the risk of falls or injuries, which can be particularly important for individuals with RA who may experience joint instability.
   
4. Breathing Techniques: We will highlight the importance of incorporating breath control techniques into exercises to help promote relaxation, reduce muscle tension, and improve overall movement efficiency.
   
   
   

Exercise Modifications for Clients with Compromised Elbow Joints
It is crucial to make thoughtful exercise modifications that prioritize comfort and safety. Remember to have a measured approach with your exercise selection. Allowing a gradual progression as the client’s strength and confidence flourish, from exercises that are well tolerated to more challenging movements.
With compromised elbow joint we wish to work with the following modalities:

Focus on lower body work

The limitations on the lower body will be minimal but the benefits will remain. So centre the bulk of the workouts on the lower body which is half of the body and provides extra benefits such as improvements in balance, flexibility, core and breath control
Avoid exercises that use the arms to support the body
With the elbows compromised, the elbows will find it hard to support one’s body weight, exercises such as the following should be removed or modified:
Straight arm planks, Superman, Push-ups
instead use variations just as elbow planks
Prefer kneeling and supine arm work with loops
We still wish to strengthen the muscles around the elbows and will thus need to work our upper bodies. Using the loops for resistance means using a much more manageable workload that can be adjusted to the strength of the client.
Exercises such as:
Kneeling arms series, supine arms series, kneeling torso twists
Adjust the springs to make the exercises more accessible
Get some stretches in
The final piece of the puzzle is to work on increasing the range of motion of the joints. This will naturally occur during some of the exercises mentioned above. We can then specifically focus on this goal by using gentle stretches such as:

• Child’s pose, Puppy stretch, Chest openers
  

Think about stretches that will help straighten the arms but also stretches that will open up the chest and shoulders


This concludes the guide. This is meant to be a short but informative introduction to the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis within the confines of a Reformer Pilates class. We all can play a role in our clients recovery by always learning and personalizing our programs to suit each clients individual needs