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Longterm physical training in rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized trial with different training programs and blinded
T M Hansen1, G Hansen, A M Langgaard
1Department of Rheumatology, King Christian X's Hospital, Graasten, Denmark.
Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
|January 1, 1993
Summary
This 2-year study found that structured training programs did not improve disease activity or slow joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis patients. While beneficial for patient preference, training alone did not alter rheumatoid arthritis progression.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Exercise Physiology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing joint inflammation and damage.
- Exercise is often recommended for RA patients, but its long-term impact on disease activity and progression requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term (2-year) effects of different training programs on disease activity and radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 75 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Interventions included various training programs over 2 years.
- Outcome measures comprised patient-reported symptoms (morning stiffness, pain), clinical joint counts, health and functional scores, inflammatory markers (ESR, Hb), medication costs, and radiographic joint damage progression.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in disease activity markers between training groups and controls.
- Radiographic progression of joint damage in hands and feet was not significantly affected by the training interventions.
- While patients generally favored participating in training, the programs did not demonstrate a measurable impact on RA disease activity or progression.
Conclusions:
- Structured training programs, as implemented in this study, do not appear to modify the underlying disease activity or slow the structural progression of rheumatoid arthritis over a 2-year period.
- Despite patient preference, the findings suggest that training interventions alone may not be sufficient to alter the disease course in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Further research may be needed to explore optimal exercise modalities or combinations with other therapies for RA management.