Exercise ups fitness in arthritis

An exercise plan combining strength training and aerobic conditioning can help women with even long-standing rheumatoid arthritis boost their fitness. Keeping the muscles and heart in shape, could allow people with rheumatoid arthritis to better maintain their ability to perform day-to-day tasks. Unlike the more common osteoarthritis that is often associated with ageing, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) arises when the immune system mistakenly attacks tissue in the joints, leading to inflammation, pain and progressive joint damage. The condition, seen more commonly in women, is often marked by flare-ups in which there is active inflammation and worsening of symptoms, followed by "stable" periods in which symptoms improve.As muscle weakness and lower cardiovascular fitness can accompany the joint damage of RA, the study looked at whether a combination of supervised strength conditioning and endurance training could safely improve fitness among women with the disease. Researchers at the Central Hospital in Jyvaskyla, Finland studied 23 women with RA, of whom half were in the early stages of the disease, while the other half had long-standing symptoms. All were in a stable phase of the condition with no active inflammation. The researchers found that 21 weeks of aerobic activity like riding a stationary bike or walking, plus resistance exercises to work the major muscles improved the women's cardiovascular fitness and strength. The women did not have to exercise a lot to see these benefits. The exercise plan called for three aerobic workouts over a two-week period, and the same frequency of strengthening exercises. Health professionals supervised each woman's exercise plan. This not only ensured safety, but also allowed each woman's workout to be adjusted over time to most effectively boost her endurance and muscle strength. All of the women in the study were on standard RA drugs, but researchers stressed that supervised physical activity is an important component of overall therapy that should begin in the early stages of the disease. Many people with RA live just above the muscle strength threshold for performing such essential tasks as getting up from a chair or climbing stairs. Improving their strength and endurance could help them preserve their capacity for these daily activities.