Study Examining the Effect of Exercise in People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Taking Anti-TNFalpha Medication

University College Dublin51 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine whether exercise is beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) taking antiTNFalpha medication

Substantial progress has been made in the medical management of RA over the past decade but at present no drug therapy leads to long-term remission for all patients with RA. People may still continue to experience physical, psychological and functional consequences which could benefit from rehabilitation.little research exists on the effects of exercise for people with RA taking anti-TNFalpha therapy medication. It is proposed to conduct a randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of group exercise therapy in a gym setting or in a hydrotherapy pool compared to a control group.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Interventions

Gym exercise group interventionOTHER

Gym based circuit class

Hydrotherapy group exercise interventionOTHER

Hydrotherapy group exercise class

Control groupOTHER

No intervention

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with RA receiving anti-TNFalpha therapy medication for more than three months * Consenting male and female patients aged 18 - 70 years * Patients will have a documented diagnosis of RA as classified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria * ACR functional class I, II, III Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have attended physiotherapy in the past three months * Patients to whom exercise therapy or hydrotherapy are contraindicated * Patients who have undergone joint surgery in the past six months

Locations (1)

Our Lady's Hospice

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire

Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks and 24 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

50 foot Walk Test

Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks and 24 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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