Supporting autonomy may improve motivation for exercise in people with rheumatoid arthritis, says study

While a number of studies have focussed on factors associated with initiating physical activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis, little attention has been given to factors contributing to the maintenance of exercise.

A new study, however, has found that higher levels of autonomous motivation – believing that one has the ability to succeed in exercising – and greater use of self-regulation skills, helped people to maintain physical activity six months after they had been given a motivational interview and coaching in self-regulation skills.

In a new study from the University of Helsinki in Finland and Leiden University in the Netherlands, researchers examined whether people with rheumatoid arthritis would be more likely to remain active and healthy if they were taught how to motivate and direct themselves.

A group of 78 people with rheumatoid arthritis took part in the study. A control group were given either a patient-education session, while a treatment group were given a patient-education session, together with one motivational interview and two self-regulation coaching sessions.

The results, published in Arthritis Care & Research, states that those in the treatment group reported significantly higher autonomous motivation and greater use of self-regulation skills to the control group.

Regular exercise, particularly if maintained over a period of time, is known to be of benefit to people with rheumatoid arthritis. This study suggests more people are likely to remain active if they have the tools to motivate and direct themselves.

Commenting on these findings, Dr Katherine Free, of Arthritis Research UK, says, “Exercise is important for people with rheumatoid arthritis. It can often feel difficult to motivate yourself to keep moving and active, especially when you’re in pain. Resting can make the joints feel comfortable, but without any movement joints can stiffen and muscles can feel weaker.

“It’s therefore important to strike a balance between rest and exercise to improve painful symptoms. This study shows that interventions aimed at maintaining motivation can be beneficial to people with this painful and debilitating condition.”

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