Exercise can improve low mood when people with arthritis experience fatigue

People with arthritis who experience low mood when they are fatigued can combat this through increased physical activity, says research published in Arthritis Care & Research.
A total of 142 people (72 with osteoarthritis and 70 with rheumatoid arthritis) filled out daily diaries during four fixed time windows a day for a week. The diaries assessed fatigue, pain and positive and negative mood trends. The volunteers wore pedometers throughout the day.

Physical activity seemed to help soften the relationship between daily fatigue and positive mood for people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. On days when people were particularly tired, significant low mood trends were noted in the diaries, but the impact was lessened on days when people were more active.

“Being more physically active on high-fatigue days buffered the negative effect of fatigue on positive mood among adults with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis,” the researchers conclude. “These findings have implications for understanding the daily variations in fatigue and inform potential clinical interventions.”

Subscribe to Arthritis Digest, the UK’s fastest growing arthritis magazine for all the latest arthritis news, reviews and celebrity interviews. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products. Hard copy and digital versions both available. Click here for more information.

Image credit: Tony and Debbie