{"id":2394,"date":"2024-06-25T13:52:29","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T17:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/?page_id=2394"},"modified":"2025-02-20T15:20:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T20:20:15","slug":"why-does-exercise-matter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/prevail-exercise-resource\/rheumatoid-arthritis-and-exercise\/why-does-exercise-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Why does exercise matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXP266415314\">Exercise is good for your overall <\/span><span class=\"ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorZoomed BCX0 SCXP266415314\">health, helping reduce fatigue and ease depression. Additionally, exercise<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXP266415314\"> can help manage your RA symptoms!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s see how exercise effects your&#8230;<\/p>\n<div role=\"tablist\" class=\"panel-group yourcustomclass oscitas-bootstrap-container\" id=\"unc-accordion-0\">\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-0\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-0\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-0\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-0\">\n                Heart and Lungs            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h2>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-0\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\"> <span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">Adults with RA are at a higher <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">risk of developing heart <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">disease, <span class=\"TextRun SCXW189349637 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189349637 BCX8\">which may increase risk for heart attack and stroke<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\">Participating in regular physical activity <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\">or exercise strengthens your heart, <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\">improves lung function, reduces the risk <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\">of heart attack, and decreases the risk <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP148107729 BCX0\">of developing heart disease. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-1\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-1\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-1\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-1\">\n                Metabolic System            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h2>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\"> <span class=\"TextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\">Adults with RA <span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">are at a higher<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\">risk for conditions such as insulin <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\">resistance, high blood pressure, high <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\">blood glucose, and obesity. <\/span><span class=\"AdvancedProofingIssueZoomed SCXP247910592 BCX0\">All of<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\"> these <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\">conditions can lead to increased risk of <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP247910592 BCX0\">heart disease.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\">Participating in regular physical activity <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\">and exercise can lower blood glucose <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\">and blood <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorZoomed SCXP26722328 BCX0\">pressure, and<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\"> decrease <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\">insulin resistance. It can also promote <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-scheme-color=\"@000000,1,\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP26722328 BCX0\">weight loss and prevent weight gain.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-2\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-2\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-2\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-2\">\n                Bones            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h2>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\"> <span class=\"TextRun SCXW21112502 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW21112502 BCX8\">Adults with RA <span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">are at a higher <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">risk<\/span><\/span> of bone density loss including osteopenia and osteoporosis.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Participating in regular physical activity and exercise can improve bone strength, improve bone density, and prevent the progression of osteoporosis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-3\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-3\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-3\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-3\">\n                Muscles            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h2>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXP138157799 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP138157799 BCX0\">Adults with RA <span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">are at a higher <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP57063182 BCX0\">risk<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP138157799 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP138157799 BCX0\">\u00a0of developing <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP138157799 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP138157799 BCX0\">sarcopenia, a condition that causes a <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXP138157799 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXP138157799 BCX0\">loss of muscle mass and strength.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXP181532435\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXP181532435\">A combination of aerobic and strength <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXP181532435\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXP181532435\">exercise can improve muscle strength, <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXP181532435\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-usefontface=\"true\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXP181532435\">muscle mass, physical function and balance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a class=\"btn btn-default btn-lg  oscitas-bootstrap-container\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/our-research\/prevail-study\/rheumatoid-arthritis-and-exercise\/exercise-introduction\/\">Next Page <i class=\"glyphicon glyphicon-arrow-right\" style=\"color:#007fae;\"><\/i><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exercise is good for your overall health, helping reduce fatigue and ease depression. Additionally, exercise can help manage your RA symptoms! Let&#8217;s see how exercise effects your&#8230; &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117304,"featured_media":0,"parent":2392,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-2394","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","odd"],"acf":[],"_links_to":[],"_links_to_target":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/117304"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2394\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/healthsciences\/rmrlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}