The connection between Psoriasis and Arthritis

A little less than a third of people who have psoriasis will get psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis causes patches of scaly, red, or white skin.

Psoriatic arthritis causes joint swelling and pain that can lead to permanent damage. Your immune system is responsible for both.

It’s important to note that not everyone who has psoriasis will get psoriatic arthritis, even though the conditions are often related.

How they are connected

Inflammation is part of both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Both of these conditions occur because your immune system attacks your own body instead of something foreign to you.

Usually, you’ll have the skin symptoms first. But sometimes, arthritis symptoms appear months, or even years, before skin problems do. That makes it hard to diagnose.

People with severe psoriasis could have a greater chance of getting psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis doesn’t cause scarring or any other lasting harm to skin. But psoriatic arthritis can damage joints and leave them stiff and deformed if it isn’t treated.

It’s important to work with your GP.

The Best Types of Exercise for Psoriatic Arthritis

Those with psoriatic arthritis know that the condition affects different joints, and it affects each person differently. Perhaps you have arthritis only in your hands, or maybe you have a debilitating, deforming type of psoriatic arthritis called arthritis mutilans. Your exercise regimen will depend on the type and severity of your psoriatic arthritis.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis may do three kinds of exercises:

Strength Training

These exercises are designed to increase muscle strength. The stronger your muscles, the more stable your joints. Using free weights is an excellent form of strength-training exercise.

Range-of-Motion Exercises

These involve gently stretching your joints as far as you can in each direction. Performing range-of-motion exercises will help you keep your joints flexible and keep you from feeling stiff. You should perform range-of-motion exercises daily.

Weight-Bearing or Endurance Exercises

These exercises will improve your cardiovascular fitness and overall health as well as your psoriatic arthritis symptoms. The best endurance or recreational exercises for people with psoriatic arthritis are walking, swimming, and biking..

Make time for exercise

Exercising at least two or three times a week for at least 20 minutes should become your routine.

Many people with psoriatic arthritis find that warm water exercises can make them feel better. Exercising in a pool is great because it takes the stress off your joints.