Outdoor Exercise for People with Rheumatic Disease-Study Protocol and Baseline Characteristics of the OUTdoor...

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Public Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Rheumatic diseases impact quality of life and physical function.
• Structured physical activity (PA) is a key management strategy.
• Nationwide initiatives for outdoor PA in rheumatic populations are under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the setup and implementation of the OUTPAC nationwide Danish initiative.
• To assess the impact of structured outdoor PA on individuals with rheumatic diseases.
• To provide clinical insights into large-scale outdoor PA intervention development.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study with over 1600 participants (predominantly women, mean age 65).
• Participants included individuals with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lower back pain.
• Interventions focused on strength, balance, physical capacity, mental health, and nature interaction, with data collected via questionnaires and physical tests.

Main Results:

• Despite moderate pain and high medication use, participants reported good quality of life (EQ-5D-5L mean: 0.81) and average mental health (WHO-5 mean: 62.9).
• Baseline physical test scores were comparable to the general population aged 60-69.
• The study successfully implemented a large-scale nationwide outdoor PA intervention.

Conclusions:

• The OUTPAC project demonstrates the feasibility and positive baseline outcomes of a nationwide outdoor PA intervention for rheumatic diseases.
• Outdoor PA interventions can positively influence quality of life and mental health in this population.
• Further analysis will explore short- and long-term changes and influencing factors.