Physical activity counselling programmes mean more exercise and less pain

Exercise expertise from physiotherapists can reduce pain for people with inflammatory arthritis, says a study of over 100 people in Arthritis Care & Research.

People with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus were split into groups. In weeks 1–8 the Immediate Group had education and counselling by a physiotherapist, used a Fitbit and a web-application to obtain feedback about their physical activity, and received four follow-up calls from the physiotherapist.

The Delay Group received the same intervention in weeks 10–17.

Participants were assessed at the start of the study, week 9, 18 and 27, and were promising for those with rheumatoid arthritis but less so for people with lupus. The participants with rheumatoid arthritis began spending more time in moderate or vigorous physical activity and had less pain.

“Counselling by a physiotherapist has potential to improve physical activity in people with inflammatory arthritis, but further study is needed to understand the intervention effect on different diseases,” the authors explain. “We found a significant improvement in pain, suggesting the intervention might have a positive effect on symptom management.”

Click here to read the original research.

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