Coaching patients with early rheumatoid arthritis to healthy physical activity: A multicenter, randomized, controlled study

Abstract

A 1-year coaching program for healthy physical activity resulted in improved perceived health status and muscle strength, but the mechanisms remain unclear, as self-reported physical activity at healthy level did not change.

Efficacy of cardiorespiratory aerobic exercise in rheumatoid arthritis: Meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Because exercises were thought to provoke joint damage by enhancing disease activity (2), patients with inflammatory arthritis, especially RA, were discouraged from performing weight-bearing exercises. In a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT), we showed that an exercise program had a greater impact on both disability assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and quality of life than conventional joint rehabilitation (3), contrasting with most of the previous similar studies that failed to detect any statistical difference on the HAQ (4,5) or quality of life (6). Several trials showed that exercises were safe in RA rehabilitation and effectively improved aerobic fitness (3,5,7,8).…”

Supporting stepwise change: improving health behaviors in rheumatoid arthritis with the example of physical activity

“…So far, intervention studies of HEPA in RA have been evaluated in two randomized controlled studies with partially contradictory results. One study reported increased HEPA levels but no effects on health-related outcome [10], while the other found improvements in perceived health and muscle function without being able to demonstrate any change in HEPA levels [11]. Thus, the mechanisms behind the positive outcome were unclear and the providers´ coaching skills were not measured.…”

Sexual Health and Intimate Relationships in Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…Due to lack of research there is limited evidence as to whether many physiotherapy interventions have a beneficial effect (Vliet Vlieland 2007). However, regular physical exercise and encouragement to increase physical activity have been proven to be effective in decreasing symptoms in persons with RA (Brodin et al 2008). The described positive outcomes of regular physical activities are improved physical function including increased muscle strength and endurance, aerobic fitness, and joint range of motion, as well as reduction of pain and fatigue (Cairns and McVeigh 2009;Cooney et al 2011).…”

“…Those positive effects of physical activities and regular exercise can enhance sexual health since the mentioned outcomes are affecting sexual health (Hill, Bird, and Thorpe 2003;Josefsson and Gard 2010). Physical activities can be coached directly by the physiotherapist in 2-3 sessions/week or by homebased programs where coaching is done by phone or by follow-up visits at the physiotherapy clinic (Brodin et al 2008). Pain is a prioritized outcome for persons with RA and pain often affects sexual health negatively.…”

“…The level of physical fitness is also related to the level of sexual activities (Bortz and Wallace 1999), which is another indicator that it is important to involve physiotherapists and their expertise of coaching towards physical activity in rehabilitation for persons with RA. Physiotherapists regularly coach persons with RA towards being more physically active and to continue with physical activity after onset of the disease (Brodin et al 2008), but the relation between sexual activity levels and physical activity levels shows that physical activity coaching should be done not only to improve physical fitness but also to improve sexual health. Physiotherapy can also increase the choice of possible sexual intercourse positions by increasing joint mobility and muscle strength, and the patient's knowledge of their physical abilities.…”