Principles of exercise in rheumatological disorders

Exercise programs for patients with arthritis have been shown to produce a variety of benefits like increase and maintenance of range of motion, re-education and strengthening of muscles, increase in static and dynamic endurance, decrease in the number of swollen joints, enabling joints to function better biomechanically, increase the locomotor ability, increase the bone density, decrease in pain, increase in patients' overall function and well-being, decrease inflammation and increase in aerobic capacity. Patients value exercise prescription which is designed to improve function.