RESEARCH - Can progressive resistance training reverse cachexia in patients with RA?

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J Rheumatol. 2005 Jun;32(6):1031-9.

Can progressive resistance training reverse cachexia in patients with

rheumatoid arthritis? Results of a pilot study.

Marcora SM, Lemmey AB, Maddison PJ.

School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, University of Wales-Bangor,

and Department of Rheumatology, Gwynedd Hospital, Bangor, Wales, UK.

OBJECTIVE:. A Phase II trial was performed as a preliminary test of the

efficacy and safety of progressive resistance training (PRT) as adjunct

treatment for rheumatoid cachexia. METHODS: Ten mildly disabled patients

with well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis (RA) trained, on average, 2.5

times per week for 12 weeks. Ten age and sex matched RA patients with

similar disease characteristics were non-randomly assigned to a control

group. Body composition, physical function, and disease activity were

assessed pre and post intervention period. RESULTS: Between group

comparisons at followup by ANCOVA using baseline scores as covariate showed

significant increases in fat-free mass (+1253 g, p = 0.004), total body

protein (+1063 g, p = 0.044), and arm (+280 g, p = 0.005) and leg (+839 g, p

= 0.001) lean mass (a proxy measure of total body skeletal muscle mass) in

response to PRT with no exacerbation of disease activity. There was also a

trend for loss of fat mass in the trunk (-752 g, p = 0.084) and a

significant reduction in percent body fat (-1.1%, p = 0.047). Changes in

body composition were associated with improvements in various measures of

physical function.

CONCLUSION: Intense PRT with adequate volume seems to be an effective and

safe intervention for stimulating muscle growth in patients with RA. Pending

confirmation of these results in a larger randomized controlled trial that

includes patients with more active and severe disease, a similar PRT program

should be included in the management of RA as adjunct treatment for

cachexia.

PMID: 15940763

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=15940763

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