EULAR recommendations for physical activity in people with inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis: 2025 update

The 2018 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for physical activity (PA) in people with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and osteoarthritis (OA) required revision as new studies have been published on interventions using technology and/or the combination of educational and behavioural strategies to promote PA or reduce sedentary behaviour (SB). Moreover, the World Health Organisation released updated general PA guidelines in 2020 with an emphasis on reducing SB. This work aimed to update the 2018 EULAR recommendations for PA in IA and OA.

The EULAR Standardised Operating Procedures for developing recommendations were followed. A multidisciplinary task force (TF) was established. Systematic literature searches related to 13 research questions were conducted in August 2024. Recommendations were updated, and the TF members rated their level of agreement and estimated impact and implementability (0-10 scale, with 10 highest).

The revised recommendations include 4 overarching principles and 11 recommendations on PA and SB including inter alia PA promotion as standard care, measurements of PA, and intervention modalities considering dose, adaptations and the application of (technology-based) behaviour change techniques. The mean level of agreement for the recommendations ranged from 9.0 to 9.8, the mean impact between 8.3 and 9.2, and the mean feasibility of implementation between 7.2 and 8.5. In addition, quality indicators, research and educational agendas were defined.

The updated EULAR recommendations for PA should guide the development, conduct and evaluation of PA interventions and promotion, including the reduction of SB, in people with IA and OA. These recommendations should be implemented with consideration of individual needs, environmental conditions, and the broader national health care context.