Use Your Brain To Fight Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis causes serious stress and fatigue. But if you put your mind to it, researchers say, you can offset some of these discomforts and improve your life.

“Mindfulness” exercises— which focus on experiencing the present moment no matter how difficult— can help curb the stress and fatigue associated with painful rheumatoid joint disease, according to research in Norway.

The research sessions, which were led by healthcare professionals trained in mindfulness techniques, addressed particular topics, such as recognizing individual limitations, and strong emotions, such as anger, joy and sorrow.

The exercises, which are part of the Vitality Training Program (VTP), encourages participants to become aware of and deliberately concentrate on their feelings, thoughts and bodily experiences, including pain, without judging or trying to avoid them.

Participants in the study were given creative exercises, such as guided imagery, music and drawing, and shared their experiences with other members of the group.

The researchers emphasize that while the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has improved greatly in the past decade, it is less effective in those with more established disease, and that ultimately the disease can be only  partly controlled, forcing many patients to make very demanding lifestyle changes.

“There is therefore a need for complementary interventions that enhance individuals’ health-promoting resources and help them adjust to their disease,” they conclude.