How to Care for 5 Joints Commonly Affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects everyone differently, but certain joints are more often involved in the disease than others. One reason the condition can be so hard to live with is that it typically affects the fingers, wrists, knees, ankles, and feet — joints that get a lot of use, explains David Lee, MD, a rheumatologist at Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center in Riverside, California.

In general, you can limit joint damage by following your medication regimen, not smoking, getting regular exercise, and eating an anti-inflammatory diet. But when it comes to soothing the joints that ache the most, these tips can help.

1. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Your Knees

Where: RA typically affects both sides of the body, so most people feel pain in both knees.

What worsens it: When you’re having a flare, repetitive use and high-impact exercises may make knee pain worse. Being overweight and sedentary increases knee pain and stiffness, whether or not you’re having a flare.