Rheumatic fever. Body building

HI Tammy,

there is no known association with rheumatic fever and rheumatoid arthritis, other than the similarity of their names.  Rheumatic fever is caused by strept infections.  The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. 

Yes, anyone can benefit from body building as long as it doesn't strain the joints.  Consultation with a physical therapist in advance and during the training, along with discussion with the rheumatologist, is a good idea.  If there are a lot of joint deformities, then muscle strengthening but not necessarily intense body building is probably a much wiser approach.