REVIEW - Aerobic exercise may help with autoimmune disease-related fatigue

[Guest guest]

Aerobic Exercise May Help With Autoimmune Disease-Related Fatigue

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 25 - Increasing amounts of low impact aerobic

exercise may help individuals with the fatigue that often accompanies

chronic autoimmune conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus

erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, according to a recent report.

" Our review showed that aerobic exercise can significantly reduce fatigue

and that some behavioral, nutritional, and physiological interventions are

also very effective, " lead author Dr. Jane Neill, from Flinders University

in Adelaide, said in a statement.

The findings are based on a review of data from 36 reports identified

through a literature search of articles relating to chronic autoimmune

diseases and fatigue. All told, 38 anti-fatigue interventions were tested on

over 1700 patients.

Twenty-four of the interventions yielded significant reductions in fatigue

or improved vitality levels, the authors note in the December issue of the

Journal of Advanced Nursing.

The studies showed that 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise, thrice weekly,

for an average of 12 weeks led to meaningful reductions in fatigue.

Supervised exercise classes as well as home-based programs, involving

bicycling, walking, and other activities, were effective in cutting fatigue,

the report indicates.

According to Dr. Neill, " health education and cognitive behavioral therapy "

were also useful in reducing fatigue.

Electromagnetic field devices may offer some benefit, but further

confirmatory research is needed, the researchers note. A similar conclusion

was reached regarding the use of cooling techniques and nutritional

supplements.

" Healthcare professionals should ask people about their fatigue and assess

each person's symptoms, " Dr. Neill noted. " People with fatigue should be

encouraged to design their own exercise routines based on awareness of their

individual fatigue patterns and daily priorities, while group activities

must take account of the changing nature of fatigue over time. "

J Adv Nurs 2006

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549864

Not an MD