Exercise can reduce fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis

Daily physical activity can make people with rheumatoid arthritis feel less tired, says research published in Arthritis Care & Research.
A team from the Netherlands looked at the relationship between daily activity level, fatigue, pain, coping and cognition in 167 people with rheumatoid arthritis. Fatigue scores were recorded using a standard measure and physical activity was monitored for 14 days.
Results showed that 25% of volunteers had a low activity level and 75% had a high level. Those with higher activity levels tended to have less fatigue. But pain, disability, coping and cognition were not associated with daily activity levels.
“Along with pain, fatigue is one of the things that people with arthritis tell us has the biggest impact on their lives,” says a spokesperson from Arthritis Research UK. We’re currently investigating ways in which people can cope with the effects of fatigue on a daily basis.
“We’ve also demonstrated, through our research, that high-intensity progressive resistance training can be extremely effective in people with rheumatoid arthritis by increasing their muscle mass and ability to perform everyday activities.”