Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
Gentle low-impact exercise suits gout between flares. Rest the joint during a flare and avoid dehydration.
Yoga and exercise cannot dissolve urate crystals, but regular gentle activity helps weight control, joint health and overall wellbeing, which can lower flare risk.
During a flare
Rest the joint. Do not stretch, load or exercise an inflamed joint. Return slowly once pain settles.
Between flares: helpful activities
Gentle yoga poses
What to avoid
Tips
Wear cushioned shoes, warm up before activity, and drink water before, during and after.
Key points
Before your appointment
Carry earlier uric acid and kidney reports, a list of all medicines and supplements, and notes on which joints hurt, when flares started and what you ate or drank beforehand. Tell your doctor about any kidney stones, diabetes, blood pressure or family history of gout.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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Gout medicines include NSAIDs, colchicine and steroids for flares, and allopurinol or febuxostat for long-term control.
Gout is controllable: treat the flare, lower uric acid long term, change lifestyle and follow up to protect joints.
Gout moves from silent high uric acid to flares and, untreated, chronic joint damage. Treatment can change the course.
Gout can be acute, recurrent or chronic tophaceous, primary or secondary. Learn how it differs from pseudogout.
Gout causes sudden severe joint pain, often in the big toe, with redness and swelling. A hot joint with fever needs urgent care.
Rest, ice, fluids and avoiding alcohol can ease a gout flare. Home care does not replace medical treatment.
