Physical exercise is gradual from passive to active activities, and the intensity of activity should be as high as the patient can tolerate. Activities such as limb flexion and extension, walking, hand grasping and lifting can be done, but attention should be paid to the amount of activity and it should not be too strenuous. If the patient is in the acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, bed rest or other forms of rest should still be the mainstay.