This research program aims to comprehensively investigate the clinical, physiological, metabolic, and molecular effects of reducing sedentary behavior in rheumatoid arthritis. To this aim, we will conduct a 4-month parallel-group randomized controlled trial aiming to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a newly developed personalized intervention focused on replacing sedentary time with light-(or very light-) intensity physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, a sub-sample of patients will complete a randomised cross-over study aiming to unravel potential mechanisms underlying the metabolic, physiological and molecular effects of breaking up sedentary time with light-intensity physical activity versus carrying out the minimum amount of daily exercise at once and then remaining sedentary versus simply remaining sedentary throughout all sessions, in a well-controlled laboratorial condition.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
The Take a STAND for health is a newly developed 4-month goal-setting intervention aimed at reducing sedentary behavior
University of Sao Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
RECRUITINGSedentary behaviour as assessed by ActivPAL™
Time frame: 4 months
Physical activity levels as assessed by ActiGraph GT3X®
Time frame: 4 months
Disease activity as assessed by DAS28
Time frame: 4 months
Drug doses
Current and cumulative dose of prednisone, and current use of biological agents and non-biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
Time frame: 4 months
Fatigue as assessed by the Fatigue Severity Scale
Time frame: 4 months
Pain as assessed by the Visual Analogic Scale
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
Body composition as assessed by densitometry (DEXA)
lean mass, fat mass and bone mass
Time frame: 4 months
Aerobic conditioning as assessed by a cardiopulmonary test
Time frame: 4 months
Physical functioning as assessed by a Health Assessment Questionnaire
Time frame: 4 months
Muscle function as assessed by a battery of tests
Timed Stands Test and Timed Up-and-Go Test
Time frame: 4 months
Blood pressure
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
Insulin sensitivity as assessed by surrogates of insulin sensitivity
Glucose, insulin, c-peptide, and HbA1c
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
Inflammatory cytokines
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
Lipid profile
Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
Heart rate responses to exercise as assessed by a cardiopulmonary test
Chronotropic response and heart rate recovery
Time frame: 4 months
Muscle sympathetic nerve activity as assessed by microneurography
Time frame: 4 months
Quality of life as assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire
Time frame: 4 months
Western blotting
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
RT-PCR
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
RNA sequencing
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
Lipidomics
Time frame: 4 months (RCT) and 8 hours (crossover)
Vascular function and structure as assessed using a high-resolution ultrasound machine
Flow-mediated dilation and carotid intima-media thickness
Time frame: 4 months
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