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Physiotherapy and exercise for arthritis joints

Arthritis is called the inflammation in the joints. In most cases the disease is chronic in nature. To do therapeutic exercises recommended during periods of remission. Usually exercises physical therapy are performed under relaxed conditions: lying down on the floor, sitting etc. Very good in all diseases of the joints to exercise in water, during a visit to the pool.

The benefits of physiotherapy for arthritis:

  • Long-term reduction of pain syndrome;
  • Restoration of bone and cartilage;
  • Strengthening muscles. When they are weakening the process of deformation of the joints is considerably accelerated.

Arthritis can affect different joints, so for each of them there is a separate set of exercises.

The content of the article:


Gymnastics with arthritis of the knee joint

Starting position – lying on back

  1. Stretch arms and legs, pulling the spine; inhale, exhale to pull socks on itself, and heel forward, reducing foot. You can perform the exercise alternating each leg, pausing at the point for 10 sec. In conclusion, to perform a circular rotation of the feet.

  2. Alternately, bend your knees, reaching your heels to the buttocks, and sliding his feet across the floor.

  3. Alternately slow to take away first one, then the other leg.

  4. Alternately lift your feet about 20 cm above the floor.

  5. Legs bent, feet placed on the floor. 1 – right leg straighten and put on the floor; 2 – slowly raise it up about 45 degrees; 3 – lower leg on the floor; 4 – bend in the starting position. Repeat with the left foot.

  6. Raise your right straight leg and inhale to pull the toe forward, as you exhale – the heel. Repeat with the left foot.

  7. Bend the knee and pull it to your chest, hold this position for 3-5 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.

  8. Raise bent legs, pulling knees up to your chest, then straighten themup, holding hands, back to bend and then put on the floor.

  9. Bend legs, feet resting on the floor. To divorce knees in sides, trying to bring them to the floor of the foot while pressed against each other.

  10. "Bicycle". Alternately bend and straighten the knees raised and legs, simulating Cycling. You can perform this exercise separately for each leg, the second leg is at this time freely on the floor.

Starting position – sitting on a chair

  1. Swing forward and backward right foot first, then left.

  2. Lifting one leg parallel to the floor and hold for 4-5 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.

Starting position – lying on his stomach.

  1. Bend one leg at right angles and to make the drumstick in a circular rotation in the other direction. Repeat with the other leg.

  2. Bend one leg and slowly pull the heel to the buttock, helping himself with his hands.

Exercises should be performed gently, at a slow pace, focusing on stretching and improving the mobility of the knees. The optimal number of repetitions of each exercise is 15 to 20. To increase the load gradually.

Arthritis of the knees is contraindicated, any sudden and rapid movement: running, jumping (including over the rope), aerobics.

Gymnastics with arthritis of the shoulder joint

Starting position – lying on back

  1. Arms along the body. Raise your straight arms up and down.

  2. Bend your arms and put hands on the shoulders. Making the exhale, raise the arms out to the sides with her elbows resting on the floor, breathing together, connecting in front of him.

  3. Putting tassels on the shoulders, make circular rotation of the elbows, first one, then the other side, breathing freely.

  4. Exercise "Book." Dilute direct hand in hand. Expanding the body to the left, on the exhale, put your right hand on the left. On the inhale return it to I. p. Repeat to the right with the left hand.

Starting position – sitting on a chair

  1. Raise one hand and make its circular motion. Repeat with the other hand.

  2. Lower the arms along the body. Raise and lower shoulders at a moderate pace.

  3. Hands downalong the body. 1 — lift the shoulders up; 2 — to take them back; 3 — lower, 4 – to return to the starting position. Repeat in the other direction: up–forward–down–back.

  4. Put hands on shoulders, elbows pressed against the trunk. Alternately push the elbows forward in front of him, lifting them as high as possible.

    Starting position – standing.

  5. Put the left hand on the right shoulder and the right hand on the left (hugging himself for the shoulders). To raise the elbows up as high as possible and hold in this position for 8 accounts.

  6. Place your left hand on your right shoulder, take your right hand over your left elbow and gently pressing down, pull left hand to itself. Repeat with the right hand.

  7. Put your hands behind your back, bend them at the elbows and try to clasp the right brush left elbow, and left – right. Repeat, changing the position of the hands (if the right was on top, now it will be the bottom).

  8. Put your hands behind your back and connect the brush to the castle. Try to straighten hands and to connect the elbows together.

    Repeat each exercise 5-8 times.


Gymnastics with arthritis of the fingers

Each exercise was repeated at least 10 times.

  1. Rhythmically squeeze your hands into fists and unclench, gradually increasing the tempo.

  2. The maximum spread to the sides, then bring them together.

  3. With the thumb alternately touch the tips of all other fingers.

  4. RUB your palms against each other.

  5. Put the palms on the table and slowly alternately raise and lower each finger.

  6. The palm of your hand on the table, lift one finger and perform them in a circular motion in different directions. Repeat for each finger.

  7. Put the forearm vertical, elbow on the table, fingers straightened. To bend and to straighten the fingers, making the movement of the brush from side to side.

  8. Same initial position. Alternately bend and straighten each finger, pressing lightly with his elbow on the table.

  9. To pick up a tennis ball and smoothly compress and decompress it.

It is also recommended to reduce the load on the finger pads, if available, as well as to monitor the correct position of the brush during sleep.

More about therapeutic possibilitiesgymnastics with arthritis can learn from the following video:


uravitsky Igor, the doctor-the rheumatologist