Gentle exercises can help soothe the pain of arthritis, according to a study published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research.

Lynn Love, director of operations at the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), said: "Gentle exercises are certainly beneficial for many people with rheumatoid arthritis, but that is down to the individual because the disease could be so different in every individual."

"For people with arthritis, whether they have had joint replacement or not, to be able to stay active is beneficial for their health," she noted.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the tissue within the joint, leaving it painful and inflamed.

If left untreated, the joint can lose its shape and alignment and can eventually be destroyed completely.

In addition to taking gentle exercise, Ms Love also advised people with rheumatoid arthritis to stop smoking.

"There is some evidence to suggest that the onset [of rheumatoid arthritis] is faster in people who smoke," she said.

"For people who smoke and have developed rheumatoid arthritis, generally the disease can be more aggressive."