Senior Fitness: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Senior Fitness
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Senior Fitness
Question one 
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune condition that affects people mostly above forty years. It is a joint disease that can cause pain throughout the body. An affected person may show symptoms such as pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and tenderness in areas around the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis is considered to be more of a chronic inflammatory disorder that can attack various body systems such as eyes, skin, blood vessels, and heart. 
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that happens when the cartilage which cushions and protects the end of body bones wears out with time. It happens when the smooth hyaline cartilage inside the joint breaks down (Nolte & van Rensburg, 2013). When this wear and tear happens over time movement between the joints becomes more painful. This disorder particularly affects joints in the knees, hips, spine, and hands. Osteoarthritis is less severe thann rheumatoid arthritis since it can be contained by the use of medications and gentle exercises. 
As a trainer training a patient with an underlying arthritis condition there is several factors I may consider. 
* First, it is important to get to know the type of arthritis a patient has. If a patient has Rheumatoid Arthritis we should practice exercise such as tai chi which gives a patient more flexibility and reduce the chances of inflammation. If it is Osteoarthritis consider exercises that do not insert a lot of pressure on the joints and make the pain worse. Exercises like pool games and brisk walking can be useful.
* Secondly, find out what other conditions a patient may be having such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, or any other chronic illness. This is necessary since the type of medication prescribed may affect the type of exercises one can do and the level of intensity to be limited to.
* Thirdly, it is crucial to understand the physical therapist who attends the patient. As a trainer working with the therapist especially in developing exercise programs will help in understanding the patient further. With their help, it is easy to understand the proper form of exercises to use and the limitations to be observed due to the nature of the patient’s health. 
 Question two.
The Rotator cuff is located in the upper shoulder complex. It comprises of four distinct muscles that give stability when the shoulder is in motion. These muscles are known as SITS muscles w...