No disorder occurs without any cause. Nature cure principle says that all diseases are result of the accumulation of waste / toxic material in the body which have not been eliminated through the five organs of elimination (skin, kidneys, liver, lungs and colon). It also says that the body contains an elaborate healing mechanism, which has the power to cure diseased conditions provided the right methods are employed. In other words, the power to cure disease lies within the body itself.
Coming to Arthritis, it is pain and stiffness in the joints. This category includes osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune involvement), gout, ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia. Generally speaking, the general line of treatment is elimination of toxic from the body from shatkarmas - cleansing yogic techniques and pranayama as well as abdominal mud pack, dry friction, enema which are part of nature cure.
As the question describes general case, the general yoga therapy includes surya namaskar, suksham vyayama (developed by Swami Dhirender Brahmachari) and basic asanas like tadasana, ardhachakrasana, trikonasana, bhujangasana, halasana and important one - pawanmuktasana. It depends upon the flexibility of the patient as to which of the asanas will suit him / her. So, only after knowing the casehistory, one can design certain set of asanas and other exercises. Asanas and pranayama and mudras part of yoga will help the patient to increase his vital energy which is responsible for healing the body as well as give exercise to the joints.
Under Pranayama, Naadi Shuddi pranayama for 10-20 minutes has beneficial effects. Alongwith, one can add brahmri pranayama alongwith Naad-Anusandhana pranayama and sectional breathings. Shavasana will destress the patient and relax the muscles. Avoid cooling pranayama like sitali pranayama, sheetkari pranayama etc.
At the end, I prescribe sukshama pranayama to do atleast, whatever the patient can do as per his capacity.
