# Does it Hurt to Lift Weights if You Have Arthritis? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-hurt-to-lift-weights-if-you-have-arthritis/47524 "2000-12-28T16:37:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-hurt-to-lift-weights-if-you-have-arthritis/47524/1 "2000-12-28T16:37:04Z")
My wife was diagnosed with arthritis a while back and she said her doctor said she couldn’t lift weights. I have heard doctors tell alot people not to exercise but people still do and alot of times it makes them(their problems) better. I am not saying the doctor wrong on this but I would like second opinion if anyone has one. And don’t worry about listing disclaimers you have my word I won’t sue. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![weapons\_grade\_bullonium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@weapons\_grade\_bullonium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/weapons_grade_bullonium)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-hurt-to-lift-weights-if-you-have-arthritis/47524/2 "2000-12-28T16:46:24Z")
It’ more like carpal tunnel, or other repetitive stress problems. You’re not strengthing the muscles and bones as much as you are straining them. More varied, whole body exercises are in order, like swimming. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-hurt-to-lift-weights-if-you-have-arthritis/47524/3 "2000-12-28T17:05:17Z")
No, it doesn’t hurt you to lift weights if you have arthritis. It depends on what kind of arthritis you have, how bad it is, how heavy the weights are, how many repetitions you do, and whether you know enough to stop when you’re ahead. > **[Retired Site | PBS](https://www.pbs.org/retired-site/)** > > This Content is No Longer Available > [@](#): > > Substantial Arthritis Symptom Relief > Did you know that people with arthritis could lift weights? And that strength training actually can bring relief? At Tufts University, we recently completed a home-based strength training program with older men and women with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis. The results of the sixteen week program showed that strength training decreased muscle pain by 40 percent, increased muscle strength and general physical performance, improved the clinical signs and symptoms of the disease, and decreased disability. The effectiveness of the strength training to ease the pain of osteoarthritis was just a potent, if not more potent, as medications, but instead of having negative side effects, the participants had the positive side effect of becoming fitter. We have also seen similar affects of strength training with individuals with rheumatoid arthritis… You have to be cautious about putting too much stress on your joints. [http://www.phys.com/fitness/sports\_injury/database/weights/joints.html](http://www.phys.com/fitness/sports_injury/database/weights/joints.html) And finally, the “Exercise for Arthritis” website. > **[Home](https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/)** > [@](#): > > A new group of people is flocking to the gym. Who are these fitness enthusiasts? Arthritis patients. > In the past, people with arthritis tended to take it easy. They didn’t want to strain their sore joints. But now, doctors encourage arthritis patients to exercise. Regular exercise, including aerobic activity and weight training, helps keep joints mobile and fluid instead of stiff. It can improve flexibility, too. Weight training also can help muscles grow strong enough to better stabilize damaged joints. How old is your wife? Are we perhaps looking at a bit of “ageism” here, on the doctor’s part? Such as, “Old ladies with arthritis shouldn’t lift weights.” I found all this just from a Google search for “arthritis lift weights”. If your wife’s doctor is a good doctor, he won’t be threatened by “something you found on the Web”. If he IS threatened by it, maybe you need to look for a different doctor. Also, bear in mind that maybe your wife enjoys having a “doctor’s excuse” to get out of lifting weights. You’re not nagging her about this, are you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-hurt-to-lift-weights-if-you-have-arthritis/47524/4 "2000-12-28T19:30:24Z")
\*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > [@](#): > > Also, bear in mind that maybe your wife enjoys having a “doctor’s excuse” to get out of lifting weights. You’re not nagging her about this, are you? 😉 You are good. 😉 and LOL. I had to read this to her and she had to laugh too. Anyway, she said she had rumatoid(sp) arthritis and she is 33. Also thank you for all the good info. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-hurt-to-lift-weights-if-you-have-arthritis/47524/5 "2000-12-28T21:44:52Z")
My mother has osteoarthritis in her hands, and she has a hard time lifting weights. However, it’s because she can’t grip the weights very well. Her doctor tells her to do what she can, but if it hurts to stop.