Exercise can reduce depression in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and lupus

Depressed people with arthritis could benefit from a programme of exercise, scientists report in Arthritis Research & Therapy.
Researchers looked at 29 studies into the effects of exercise on depressive symptoms in adults with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia or lupus. A total of 2,449 people had taken some form of exercise as part of their treatment. They generally exercised two to four times a week for 16 to 19 weeks. Each session lasted 17 to 34 minutes.
Higher levels of exercise were associated with reductions in depressive symptoms.
The researchers believe that people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia or lupus who are not meeting physical activity guidelines could improve their mental health if they maintain a regular exercise programme:
“Exercise is associated with reductions in depressive symptoms among selected adults with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. A need exists for additional, well-designed and reported studies on this topic.”
A spokesman for Arthritis Research UK comments:
“We strongly support the findings of this study. Physical activity is vital in people with all kinds of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions in helping to keep symptoms at bay and managing their condition on a day-to-day basis. We’re currently funding research to find way of encouraging people with arthritis to keep active, and to maintain some kind of regular physical activity.”

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Image credit: Robert Neff