Telehealth-supervised exercise in systemic lupus erythematosus: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Digital Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) significantly impacts quality of life and physical function.
• Supervised exercise is beneficial but often limited by accessibility.
• Telehealth offers a potential solution to improve exercise accessibility for SLE patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of telehealth-supervised exercise for adults with SLE.
• To assess the impact of this intervention on fatigue, quality of life, and physical function.

Main Methods:

• A non-randomized controlled pilot trial comparing telehealth-supervised exercise with usual care.
• Intervention involved 8 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise, twice weekly.
• Mixed methods, including validated questionnaires and interviews, were used for data collection.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in emotional well-being and resting fatigue.
• Clinically meaningful improvements noted in fatigue, quality of life domains, resting pain, and upper body endurance.
• High exercise attendance (98%) and positive participant feedback regarding convenience and satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth-supervised exercise is a feasible and well-accepted intervention for adults with SLE.
• The intervention demonstrated modest improvements in health-related outcomes.
• A follow-up randomized controlled trial with a larger SLE cohort is recommended.