Inflammatory joint pain can come from a number of different medical conditions. These include, but are not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis.

In the past, a diagnosis of inflammatory joint pain has been difficult to treat, with no known cure. Advice has centred on mitigating symptoms with rest, changes to diet and pharmaceutical options.

Dietary changes and pharmaceuticals are bona-fide ways of reducing inflammation, and help the vast majority of patients with inflammatory joint conditions. But now it seems as though exercise has a role to play.

Research conducted in the last three years has demonstrated a consistent reduction of joint inflammation and symptoms in response to exercise, but so far this has looked at low-level, gentle exercise.

It has been thought that this is all people with inflammatory joint pain can handle without risking increasing symptoms.

Weighing up the pros and cons of medical posture braces

But in February 2019, new research has been published suggesting that patients can benefit from high intensity exercise.

High intensity exercise has been thought to be too strenuous for inflamed joints, risking causing a painful flare-up. But this new research casts doubt on this supposition.

As the authors say, “This debunks concerns that high intensity exercise might exacerbate disease activity”.

There is still reason to be slightly cautious and not just go mad, however.

Any high intensity exercise carries a small risk of musculoskeletal injury without proper preparation and conditioning.

Building up exercise intensity gradually is key to staying injury free, providing your body with time to adapt.

Raising exercise intensity has other benefits too. High intensity exercise has been shown to be protective against diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis.

In summary, high intensity exercise provides a useful additional treatment option for people with inflammatory joint pain, but this research is also helpful in removing psychological barriers people may have about continuing activity.