The Arthritis Foundation in Connecticut is spreading a new message for the new year: keep moving!

Experts say staying active helps your body cope with rheumatoid arthritis, which causes pain and stiffness in the joints. They say unlike osteoarthritis, this form of arthritis stems from an auto-immune issue that can develop early in life.

Doctors say participating in exercises on land, in a studio, or in the water is what they prescribe to patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation's Susan Nesci says while many rheumatoid arthritis patients benefit from drugs to halt the progress of the disease, exercise has become a recognized component of therapy as well.