Vigorous Exercise Offers Many Health Benefits For Arthritics

A small pilot study in Norway involving seven women with rheumatoid arthritis and eleven with adult-juvenile idiopathic arthritis found that ten weeks of vigorous training on a stationary (spinning) bike not only reduced joint inflammation, it reduced the risk of heart disease. The women, ages 20 to 50 years, also saw a small reduction in BMI, body fat and waist measurement, as well as an increase in muscle mass. With arthritis affecting one percent of the population, and three times as many women as men, the researchers suggested that the pilot study provides solid evidence that high intensity interval exercise can benefit people with the crippling condition.