RESEARCH - Exercise therapy and orthotic devices in RA: evidence-based review

[Guest guest]

Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2008 May;20(3):353-9.

Exercise therapy and orthotic devices in rheumatoid arthritis:

evidence-based review.

Oldfield V, Felson DT.

aWolters Kluwer Health | Adis, Auckland, New Zealand, an editorial

office of Wolters Kluwer Health, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA

bClinical Epidemiology Unit, Boston University School of Medicine.

(1) Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease

of the peripheral joints that causes painful disability and reduces

patients' physical function, with a substantial negative impact on

health-related quality of life (HRQL).(2) Exercise therapy, including

aerobic or strengthening exercises, and orthotic devices are utilised

in conjunction with pharmacological therapies to improve the symptoms

of pain and fatigue and improve HRQL in rheumatoid arthritis

patients.(3) Randomised, controlled trials demonstrate the beneficial

effects of regular aerobic exercise and/or strengthening exercises on

physical function and symptoms of pain and fatigue in rheumatoid

arthritis patients. However, exercise therapy does not appear to

improve disease activity.(4) Pain and physical function were

significantly improved with standard or customised foot orthoses in

small, controlled or crossover studies, and with wrist splints in two

randomised, controlled trials in rheumatoid arthritis patients.(5)

More data from large, well-controlled studies are required to fully

elucidate the role of exercise therapy and orthotic devices in the

management of rheumatoid arthritis. In particular, studies evaluating

the use of these therapies on disease activity would be useful.

PMID: 18388530

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18388530

--

Not an MD