Living With Arthritis UK — Free Support, Exercises and Diet Guidance
Living With Arthritis is a UK charity helping the 10 million people in Britain living with arthritis and joint pain. We provide free, evidence-based information on exercise, diet, pain management and local support — written in plain English and reviewed by qualified clinicians. Everything on this site is free for everyone, with no paywalls and no sign-up required.
Whether you have just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, are managing a flare of rheumatoid arthritis, or supporting a family member with fibromyalgia, you will find practical guides, gentle exercise programmes, anti-inflammatory recipes and a friendly community here.
About Living With Arthritis UK
We are an independent UK charity governed under Charity Commission standards. Our mission is to make high-quality arthritis self-management accessible to every adult in the United Kingdom, regardless of income, postcode or background. We work with chartered physiotherapists, dietitians and lived-experience contributors to keep our guidance accurate and up to date.
Who we help
- About the charity
- Governance and trustees
- Trust and credibility
- Impact stories
- Finances and annual reports
Conditions we cover
Arthritis is not a single illness. We publish in-depth, clinically reviewed guides for the most common inflammatory and degenerative joint conditions seen in UK adults, with sections on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, exercise and diet.
Common arthritis conditions
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Gout
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Juvenile arthritis
Arthritis by joint
Free exercise programmes
Regular low-impact movement is one of the most effective non-drug treatments for arthritis. Strong evidence supports walking, swimming, cycling and tai chi for reducing pain and stiffness, and improving balance and mood. Our Exercise Hub bundles short video sessions, joint-specific routines and a printable plan generator.
Tai chi and gentle movement
Programmes are split by joint — knee, hip, shoulder, hand, back and ankle — and by modality including seated tai chi, gentle yoga, resistance bands and aquatic exercise. Each routine is designed to be completed at home in 10 to 20 minutes, with clear progression for beginners through to confident movers.
- Exercise Hub
- Tai chi for arthritis
- Seated tai chi
- Tai chi for balance
- Tai chi for beginners
- Pillar guide: exercise and arthritis
Anti-inflammatory diet and Mediterranean eating
What you eat affects systemic inflammation, weight and joint pain. The Mediterranean pattern — abundant vegetables, oily fish, extra-virgin olive oil, legumes, nuts and whole grains — has the strongest evidence base for arthritis symptom relief. Our Diet Hub turns the research into practical UK supermarket-friendly meals, with shopping lists and seven-day plans.
Supplements and nutrition guidance
You will also find guidance on omega-3, turmeric and ginger, sensible weight management for knee and hip osteoarthritis, and honest reviews of supplements such as glucosamine and collagen.
- Diet Hub
- Mediterranean diet for arthritis
- Pillar guide: diet and arthritis
- Health tools and calculators
Local arthritis support across the UK
Arthritis care varies by region. We map free local services and community groups across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with city-level pages for the largest 50 UK population centres and condition-specific landing pages for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis in each city.
Regions and pillar guides
- Find local arthritis support
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
- Pillar guide: arthritis in the UK
- Pillar guide: health services
- Pillar guide: benefits and PIP
Community, blog and daily tips
Living with a long-term condition is easier with company. Our community hub publishes lived-experience stories, a peer-support buddy match service, and a daily tip library covering sleep, pacing, flare-ups and mental health.
Community resources
- Community hub
- Blog and expert articles
- Buddy peer-support
- Lived experiences
- Self-help tool
- Frequently asked questions
Ways to help and donate
Every page on this site is free to use, and we keep it that way through donations from people who have been helped by our resources. One-off and monthly gifts fund new exercise videos, dietitian-reviewed recipes and accessibility work. UK taxpayers can add 25% at no extra cost through Gift Aid.
Support our charity
Contact and accessibility
Email info@livingwitharthritis.org.uk or use our contact form. Our website is built to WCAG 2.2 AA standards with a text-scaling toolbar, native dark mode and 44px touch targets throughout.