Both of these simple methods can ease rheumatoid arthritis pain and stiffness.
Use a warm, moist compress (or towel or heating pad) on your fingers and hands for 15 minutes before you exercise.
To reduce swelling, use ice packs. Put an ice pack on the painful joint for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
You may want to switch between moist heat and ice packs. Experiment to find out what works best for you, and then make it part of your routine before and after exercise.