By Irdayante Kadir

Physiotherapy is widely used to treat stiff joints, a main symptom in some forms of arthritis. Carefully used with professional advice, it can be of considerable benefit to those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Muscles weakened as a consequence of inactivity through arthritis will benefit from physiotherapy. The techniques used can include passive exercise, in which the therapist moves the affected part of a joint to preserve joint mobility, or active exercise, in which the arthritis sufferer is taught to exercise those muscles that are most in need of exercise. You can do this for yourself to a modest degree, to get your joints going in the morning, when they tend to be the stiffest, take a warm bath and so some moderate exercise.