Back and/or neck pain can inhibit muscle function, and due to this, exercises should be focused on those particular muscles. Regular exercise also has a wide range of other benefits, as it may improve attitude, promote a healthy level of blood circulation, help individuals maintain an appropriate weight, promote endurance, provide more energy, improve sleep and can even decrease depression. The patient may be referred to a physical therapist or exercise trainer by his/her doctor in order to determine the appropriate amount and types of exercise.
In general, a person with arthritis will benefit from all or some combination of the following categories of exercise:
- Neck and back exercises to build strength: These exercises can help keep the spine strong and limber. Increased muscle strength better supports arthritic joints and keeps undue stress off of them. Inexpensive devices that add resistance, such as exercise bands, can be used, in addition to resistance and weight machines.
- Low impact aerobic activities: These activities keep the lungs and circulation systems in shape, as well as helping control weight. Popular activities that do not place undue stress on the spine include walking, stationary cycling and exercising in the water (e.g. water therapy or pool therapy).
- Range of motion exercises: These exercises are focused on keeping the back joints limber, relieving stiffness and maintaining normal joint motion in the back. These may include bending sideways, forward and back When patients are in pain, it may be necessary to use specific pain relieving techniques to help them tolerate exercises. For example, pain-relieving drugs (such as analgesics or anti-inflammatories) taken an hour before exercising may help, or applying local heat before exercise and cold packs after exercise can help make exercising easier and help relieve pain and inflammation.