How Exercising Every Day Helped Keep Me in Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission for 17 Years

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often described as a life‑long, progressive autoimmune condition. When I was first diagnosed, I was told to expect joint damage, increasing pain, and a gradual loss of mobility. Instead, I’m here—17 years in remission—and one of the most powerful tools in my healing journey has been exercising daily.

This blog isn’t about extreme workouts or pushing through pain. It’s about consistency, listening to your body, and using movement as a form of medicine.

Why Daily Exercise Matters for Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA affects the joints, muscles, and connective tissues, often causing stiffness, swelling, fatigue, and reduced mobility. When the body hurts, the natural instinct is to rest—and while rest is important, too much inactivity can make symptoms worse.

For me, movement became a way of directly countering physical limitations from the disease. Instead of letting RA dictate what my body could or couldn’t do, I used gentle, intentional exercise to rebuild strength, mobility, and confidence.

How Exercising Daily Reduces Joint Pain and Stiffness

One of the first things I noticed when I committed to daily movement was how much it reduces joint pain and stiffness. When joints stay still for too long, they become tighter and more inflamed. Gentle movement increases circulation, brings nutrients to the joints, and helps flush out inflammatory byproducts.

My daily routine doesn’t have to be intense. Some days it’s a walk, some days it’s stretching, yoga, light strength training, or mobility exercises. The key is that I move every single day—even if it’s just for five or ten minutes.

What Happens When You Skip Exercise

I’ve also experienced the downside of stopping movement. Skipping exercise can lead to muscle weakness and more pain. When muscles weaken, joints lose their natural support system. This can increase strain, instability, and inflammation—creating a cycle of pain and stiffness that’s harder to break.

Daily movement keeps the muscles around your joints strong and responsive, which protects the joints themselves.

Exercise and Bone Health

Chronic inflammation and certain medications can negatively affect bone health. That’s why weight‑bearing movement is so important. Regular activity is helping maintain bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures over time.

Even gentle strength training, walking, and resistance exercises can send signals to your body to keep bones strong.

What “Exercising Daily” Really Means

Exercising daily doesn’t mean pushing through pain or doing intense workouts every day. It means:

• Moving in a way that feels supportive, not punishing

• Choosing consistency over intensity

• Adjusting your routine during flares instead of stopping completely

• Listening to your body and respecting your limits

Some days I do a full workout. Other days, I simply stretch and breathe. Both count.

Movement as Medicine

If you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis, I want you to know that your body is capable of healing and adapting. Daily movement has been one of the pillars that helped keep me in remission for 17 years, and it can be a powerful tool in your journey too.

Start small. Be gentle. Be consistent. Your future joints will thank you.

If you want guidance on RA‑friendly exercise routines, mobility practices, and anti‑inflammatory lifestyle habits, follow my work or explore my programs designed to help you reclaim your health naturally.