If you have arthritis and you’re wondering whether you can exercise at RISE, the answer in most cases is yes. We’ve worked with countless people with arthritis, as well as people with a wide range of other injuries and physical restrictions.

The important thing is that you’re not expected to fit yourself around a fixed workout. Every Session is coached, so the exercises can be adapted around you.

How can exercise be adapted for arthritis?

There isn’t one version of an exercise that everybody has to do. Your coach can give you alternatives, variations and progressions depending on what is appropriate for you.

That might mean changing an exercise because a particular movement doesn’t suit a joint, adjusting how you perform it, or choosing a different level of difficulty. The aim is to find a version that allows you to exercise effectively while taking your arthritis into account.

• Every Session has a coach there to support you.
• Exercises can be varied around physical restrictions.
• Alternative movements can be used when necessary.
• Your starting point can be different from somebody else’s.

What if my arthritis limits what I can do?

That’s exactly where having a coach becomes particularly useful. You don’t need to decide by yourself which exercises you should avoid or how to change a Session. Your coach can help you find an appropriate version based on what you’re able to do.

We’ve had people at RISE with arthritis and many other types of injury and restriction, so needing an exercise adapted isn’t unusual or an inconvenience. It’s a normal part of coaching different people.

Should I exercise if my arthritis is painful?

Arthritis affects people differently, so we wouldn’t make a blanket promise that every exercise will be suitable for every person. If you’re experiencing significant or worsening pain, or you’ve been given specific advice or restrictions by a healthcare professional, make sure you follow that advice and tell your RISE coach.

Having arthritis doesn’t automatically rule you out of exercise. With a coach there to provide appropriate alternatives and variations, the aim is to help you find a way of exercising that works around your individual restrictions.