Overstretching

The first rule is that one should never overstretch (that is, take the muscle past its normal range of motion). Although athletes may be able to tolerate overstretching when they are young, most arthritic joints already have some instability present, and overstretching the surrounding muscles may increase both the instability and the potential for damage. In addition, muscle tissues that are inflamed during arthritic flare-ups are more prone to damage. You may need to decrease the intensity of a stretch as well as the number of repetitions until your arthritis has calmed down. Areas that I have seen people overstretch include the neck, back, and shoulders.