Our association is a member of the Rheumatoid Netherlands, because Tietze’s syndrome is a rheumatoid-related condition. The Rheumatology Netherlands indicates that it is very important that you keep moving, even if you have been diagnosed with Tietze syndrome.
Some tips about moving
- Stay within your boundaries. Don’t exert when moving. When the disorder is dormant and there is little pain, you can do more than when the disorder is very active. A physiotherapist who is acquainted with Rheumatoid diseases can advise on suitable exercises. There are many options: individual, group therapy, swimming, medical fitness and adjusted forms of sport.
- Sports. Advice about sports depends very much on your own personal situation. Contact sports and sports where the body is exerted and locally stressed can better be avoided. More suitable are fitness, swimming, cycling and walking. With swimming, cycling and walking, your movements are regular and there are no shocks that put stress on the joints. Swimming and exercise in warm water is a very good way of moving. In water the joints are hardly exerted and it even supports the joints. When cycling you can protect your joints by choosing a lower gear and by sitting straight up. A reverse brake can be more comfortable than hand brakes. Obviously there are more sports and exercises that can improve your condition. It is important that it suits you and gives you pleasure. You physiotherapist or GP can give you advise.
- Practicing together. You can also move in a group. Many rheumatic patients’ associations organize, in addition to so-called ‘dry’ exercise groups, hydrotherapy groups in which you practice in warm water under the guidance of a physiotherapist. Water exercises are often combined with exercises outside of the water. Experience shows that members of a practice group more easily apply the discipline of regular exercise.
Source: www.ReumaNederland.nl
More information can be found on the website of ReumaNederland
