Arthritis Stretches

Once the highest-paid child star in history, Tatum O’Neal won an Oscar for her role in 1973’s Paper Moon when she was just 10. The actress/producer is upfront about her RA, posting on Instagram that her hands sometimes hurt too much to answer texts. O’Neal also shared that she takes prescription RA medicines and uses heating pads to ease her symptoms.

The legendary comedienne can still make viewers laugh, whether it's via YouTube clips or reruns of her famed 1950s show, I Love Lucy. But a severe bout with a painful condition in her late teens could have sidelined the icon's career before it began. She took a couple of years to get her health under control, then returned to show business. Though doctors at the time reportedly told her it was rheumatoid arthritis, we can’t be sure that’s what she had.

This founding member of the legendary rock group the Eagles had RA, along with ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, when he passed away in January 2016 at age 67. His vocals on “Peaceful Easy Feeling” helped the band’s 1972 self-titled debut album take off, and he co-wrote many of the band's biggest hits. In the 1980s, his solo song “The Heat is On” was featured in the movie Beverly Hills Cop. Another, “You Belong to the City,” was written for the TV series Miami Vice, on which he later appeared.

Learning to work out with rheumatoid arthritis can be a challenge. To make it easier and to get better results faster, look for a personal trainer with experience helping people with rheumatoid arthritis. Try to find someone who has worked with clients who have physical limitations, who are overweight, or who are senior citizens. A trainer like that will understand your unique challenges and be able to advise you about the workout routines that will work best for your body, and give you a sense of what equipment to try and what equipment and/or methods to avoid.

While staying active is one of the best forms of self-care for rheumatoid arthritis, remember that rest is also critical for ongoing health. When it comes to any exercise, follow these tips:

High-impact exercises put too much pressure on your joints if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. They can lead to flare-ups, increase the wear and tear on joints, and make daily life more painful and difficult. Unless otherwise advised by a doctor, try to avoid activities like

Tai chi is a gentle movement exercise that originated in China and is now practiced worldwide. In tai chi, practitioners work slowly and smoothly through a system of movements and postures that are meant to connect the body with the mind. In general, tai chi proponents point to the following health benefits:

Having flexible feet is useful for everyday living. Even walking becomes easier with more flexible joints in the feet. To keep toes and ankles more flexible, follow these steps:

Sit or lie on your back on the floor or on a bed, feet slightly apart.
With your legs and knees straight, turn your knees in toward each other and touch the toes of your feet together.
Hold for five seconds.
Turn your legs and knees out, and hold for five seconds.
Repeat this twice a day, gradually increasing up to five, 10, and then 20 repetitions.

Keeping your elbows from getting stiff and sore is useful in all kinds of ways. To improve elbow flexibility, follow these steps: