Arthritis comes in several forms. In most cases, it is accompanied by joint pain and swelling, and requires the help of a doctor. The following advice will you give helpful advice for treating arthritis.

You should always stretch because when you stretch with arthritis it helps with the injuries you could get throughout the day. Stretching also warms up muscles and tendons that are more limber and less likely to get torn, but never overstretch. You should always listen to the noises your body makes so you don't over stretch and hurt yourself.

Through exercise, you can improve your arthritis symptoms as well as improve your overall health and fitness. Exercise helps keep your joints moving and it strengthens the muscles around your joints. It also promotes the health of your bones and keeps them strong. By participating in daily exercise, you will be able to complete basic daily activities more easily.

Focus on something else. When you are in pain, your mind is solely interested in that fact. If you can find something to draw your attention away from it, you will likely notice that your pain is actually lessening or possibly even disappearing. A distracting and focused hobby can be a great technique to use for this.

If you suffer from arthritis and you are going to exercise, be sure that you spend enough time stretching before you begin your workout routine. By jumping right into exercising, you are not giving your joints the stretching that they need so that they do not flare up and cause pain.

Avoid putting too much pressure on your joints. Even if they are not hurting, you should still avoid lifting heavy things or typing on a keyboard for too long. You will have to make conscious efforts at first to protect your joints but very soon everything will become a habit.

Be sure to move throughout the day. Remaining in the same position for a long time puts more stress on your joints than if you shift positions. Be sure to take regular breaks to stand and stretch and make sure that your work environment is set up to allow you to protect your joints.

People with arthritis are dealing with both chronic pain and chronic fatigue. Set priorities for your day and stick to them. There will only be so much you can accomplish on a bad day. Figure out what's most important and focus on getting that done, instead of trying to fight the pain and fatigue and do everything anyway.

To help you manage your arthritis pain you should get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Sleep helps to restore energy in your body so that you can better manage pain. Sleep also gives your joints a rest and that should reduce pain and swelling, helping you to manage your pain.

Arthritis pain is a common "umbrella" term that is used to refer to many kinds of joint pain and swelling. The above tips discuss the pros and cons of some common treatments available for individuals with arthritis pain. The safest approach often involves consulting with your physician before considering any of the treatments considered above.