Aerobic exercise may reduce fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis – international study

People with rheumatoid arthritis might see an improvement in prolonged fatigue through aerobic exercise training, according to an international study published in Arthritis Care & Research.
A literature search found five randomised controlled trials involving supervised aerobic exercise programmes with an intensity of between 50% and 90% of maximal heart rate for at least 15 minutes at least twice a week, for a minimum of four consecutive weeks.
Land-based aerobic exercise programmes were found to have a positive effect on fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis compared to no exercise at 12 weeks. At 24 weeks, the positive effect was still present, but was smaller and not statistically significant.
Rheumatoid arthritis fatigue is not currently well-managed, so the findings could be important.
“There is evidence, with low risk of bias, that an aerobic exercise programme is effective in reducing fatigue among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, especially in the short term; however, effects are small,” the research team says. “To substantiate the evidence, randomised controlled trials should be performed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis selected for having fatigue.”

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Image credit: Alyssa L. Miller