Acute effects of exercise in patients with early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Acute effects of exercise on disease characteristics, classical and novel markers of inflammation among patients with early Rheumatoid Arthritis
IRAS ID
242316
Contact name
Antonios Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Beckett University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
Exercise is considered safe and beneficial for RA patients. However, all existing information comes from patients with established disease (>2 years from diagnosis). In contrast, medical management of RA has focused on early and aggressive treatment. It is logical to suggest that exercise should also be prescribed early in the onset of RA, however there is currently no information on the effects and acceptability of exercise in early RA. Therefore, we aim to test how different types of acute exercise may affect disease activity, inflammation and joint health among patients with early RA. \nWe aim to recruit 20 patients with RA in a randomised cross-over study. All patients will visit the testing venue on 6 occasions and receive 5 phone calls (1 after each visit apart from the 1st one). This is an acute exercise study, i.e. patients will perform each exercise session only once.\nThe first visit will serve for health screening (blood pressure, lipids and blood glucose) and preliminary fitness testing (assessment of heart function during exercise and strength testing). Of the remaining 5 visits, 4 will serve for the different exercise types and 1 will serve as a control condition (no exercise). Exercise sessions will be: 1. cycling for 30’, 2. rapid cycling for short periods with rest in between, 3. lifting light loads many times, 4. lifting heavier loads fewer times. To allow for full recovery, sessions will be at least 3 days apart. Order will be randomised.\nThe acute effects (i.e. disease activity, blood sampling) of each exercise session will be assessed on 3 time-points: baseline, 0-, and 2-hours after exercise; 24h after each session, we will contact them over the phone and repeat some questionnaires on disease activity while also asking them how they feel. We expect each patient to be in the study for no more than 4-6 weeks in total
Summary of Results:
Participants completed the exercise trials in full and enjoyed all exercises. Also, none of the exercise modes or intensities increased pain or fatigue and no adverse effects were observed in blood biomarkers associated with inflammation or joint health.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0098
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion