Lifestyle Changes

It is important to maintain a balance between rest (which will reduce inflammation) and exercise (which will relieve stiffness and weakness). Studies have suggested that even as little as 3 hours of physical therapy over 6 weeks will help people with RA, and that these benefits are sustained.

The goal of exercise is to:

Maintain a wide range of motion
Increase strength, endurance, and mobility
Improve general health
Promote well-being

In general, doctors recommend the following approaches:

Start with the easiest exercises, stretching and tensing of the joints without movement.
Next attempt mild strength training. (One study found that people with RA who exercised with machines that use compressed air for gentle resistance experienced less pain and increased muscle tone.)
Aerobic exercises may then be tried. These include walking, dancing, or swimming, particularly in heated pools. Avoid heavy impact exercises such as running, downhill skiing, and jumping.
Tai chi, which uses graceful slow sweeping movements, is an excellent method for combining stretching and range-of-motion exercises with relaxation techniques. It is of particularly value for elderly RA patients who report significantly less pain after practicing this technique.

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While traditional guidelines have restricted RA patients to only gentle exercise, recent research suggests that more intense exercise may not only be safe, but may actually produce greater muscle strength and overall functioning. Common sense is the best guide:

If exercise is causing sharp pain, stop immediately.
If lesser aches and pains continue for more than 2 hours afterwards, then a lighter exercise program should be tried for a while.
Using large joints instead of small ones for ordinary tasks can help relieve pressure, for instance, closing a door with the hip or pushing buttons with the palm of the hand.

Diet

Fad diets for RA are common:

Some people claim that foods from the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, and eggplant) can worsen arthritis.
The Dong Diet eliminates all additives, preservatives, fruits, red meat, herbs, alcohol, and dairy.
A few studies have reported that vegetarian diets may be helpful for some patients. In one study, 40% of patients who were on a vegetarian diet and avoided foods containing gluten (found in wheat, barley, and rye) reported improved scores.
In another study high total caloric intake correlated with worse symptoms.