Loss of muscle mass and strength is a problem for those with the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis. Sore, swollen joints mean that exercising can be painful, so many sufferers will avoid it, growing weaker and less fit as a result, and gradually experiencing a decline in what they are capable of doing.
To maintain their quality of life, people with this debilitating condition need aform of physical activity that improves strength and mobility without aggravating painful joints. Hunter Bennett, a lecturer in exercise and sport science at the University of South Australia,
