BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that typically affects the small joints in your hands and feet. It can also affect other organs. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. It generally occurs between the ...

Arthritis would seem to be a simple mechanical failure of our bodies. Through wear and tear, the cartilage wears out in certain joints -- primarily the hip, knee, lower back, neck and hands -- leading to stiffness, pain and eventually almost total immobility.Â

Rheumatoid arthritis can be a very painful medical condition, and it can hinder movement in the joints throughout the body. An athlete that suffers from rheumatoid arthritis should be doing a lot of exercises to improve muscle strength, which can help him or her improve athletic...

Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.3 million Americans, and is two to three times more common among women. It is a chronic disease that affects the joints, primarily those in the hands, wrists, feet, shoulders and knees.

Doctors want people to exercise to keep up the range of motion in affected joints.