According to a review of eight trials involving a total of 575 patients, exercise programs designed to improve strength and stamina are safe and effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers reviewed dynamic exercise program trials in rheumatoid arthritis patients and found moderate benefits associated with this type of treatment.
“Based on the evidence in this study, we would recommend aerobic capacity training combined with muscle strength training as routine practice for rheumatoid arthritis patients,” said lead researcher Emalie Hurkmans. “But we need more research to establish the recommended length and type of exercise programs, whether patients need to be supervised and if these programs are cost effective.”
Rheumatoid arthritis affects up to 1 in 100 people in Western countries, causing chronic pain and inflammation of the joints. There is currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, and dynamic exercise programs are often recommended as a complement to other therapies to try to improve physical function.
The results of the review reaffirm the previous study’s findings that dynamic exercise programs are safe and have positive effects on aerobic capacity and muscle strength in rheumatoid arthritis patients, and when performed long term also have a positive effect on functional ability. However, the researchers say the benefits are only seen immediately after the intervention. They also suggest water-based programs may help to improve functional ability of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
“One important omission from this study is evidence for long term follow-up effects, so without further studies we can’t rule out that the obtained effects vanish if exercise programs are not continued over long periods. There are also other types of exercise that weren’t included in our review, such as flexibility and stability training, and it would be interesting to find out whether these also have positive effects,” said Hurkmans.
References:
1. Hurkmans E, van der Giesen FJ, Vliet Vlieland TPM, Schoones J, Van den Ende ECHM. Dynamic exercise programs (aerobic capacity and/or muscle strength training) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD006853. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006853.pub2.
