Gentle Exercises for Psoriatic Arthritis

When “motion is lotion,” how do we listen to our bodies to participate in exercises that benefit our joints without overdoing it and causing more pain or injury? More or less, how do people living with psoriatic arthritis stay active and prevent a sedentary lifestyle?

What exercises would I recommend for psoriatic arthritis?

For my patients with psoriatic arthritis, I typically recommend low weight-bearing exercises that take the strain away from sensitive joints while building muscle and working towards cardiovascular health.¹

Although exercises like running can increase wear and tear on the knees and other joints, low weight-bearing exercises can improve range of motion and relieve joint stiffness.²

What exercises can build your quadriceps?

There is a strong correlation between quadriceps muscle weakness and knee arthritis. The muscles and tendons in our thighs provide traction and stability for our kneecap (patella) and other structures within the knee joint. Losing muscle mass in the quadriceps and hamstrings predisposes us to early knee arthritis.³

As knee arthritis causes trouble with walking and other activities, most people notice a snowball effect when their knees hurt too much to exercise, and they become weaker and more sedentary over time. If you want to prevent early arthritis of the knee joints, work on your quadriceps muscle and strengthening the other muscles within the thighs.

Stationary or recumbent bicycling is a great way to do this when you have psoriatic arthritis without putting too much strain on the weight-bearing joints of the lower extremities, such as the hips, knees, ankles, and feet.³

As your quadriceps muscle becomes stronger over time, you will notice an easier time with everyday activities such as going up and down the stairs or squatting down to pick up an object.

What exercises can build your core strength?

Just as building quadriceps muscle strength is beneficial to the knees, building our core strength is crucial to maintaining integrity of the spine and sacroiliac joints which can be affected in psoriatic arthritis.

Weakness of the core muscles predisposes us to injuries of the spine and lower back, such as degenerative disc disease and herniated discs.⁴ A lot of people think that core strength is just in the abdominal muscles. Core strength actually wraps all the way around our midsection and includes muscles of the mid to lower back.

If these muscles are weak, we could easily hurt our back while attempting to lift something like a box or suitcase. Using a rowing machine is a great way to strengthen the muscles around our core all the way around. Yes, rowing can also help to strengthen the muscles that stabilize the spine, which is important in psoriatic arthritis.

Working on strong core strength also helps with maintaining good posture and preventing spinal arthritis from slouching.⁵

Which exercises put less strain on your joints?

If your skin symptoms are under control and you feel comfortable being in a swimsuit, give your joints a bit of a break from gravity and step into a pool! Water aerobics is one of the most popular low weight-bearing exercises among my patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Exercising in water can help with weight loss, cardiovascular health, and muscle strength.⁶ It also helps improve range of motion of the joints and decreases back stiffness. Improvements in balance and stability were also noted in patients with psoriatic arthritis who swam or did aquatic therapy.⁷

Studies also show that individuals participating in group water aerobics classes experience improvements in mental health and reduction in stress levels.