This study aims to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise therapy on quality of life, functional capacity, mood, and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, the study investigates the impact of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers, pain, and disease activity.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation, pain, and functional limitations. Exercise therapy is widely used in rehabilitation to improve functional capacity and quality of life in RA patients. In this study, patients with low disease activity RA will be divided into two groups: Standard medical treatment + education Standard medical treatment + education + aerobic exercise The aerobic exercise program will be conducted 5 days per week for 6 weeks. Outcomes including functional capacity (VO2 max), quality of life, fatigue, mood, and inflammatory markers will be assessed before and after the intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
54
Standard medical treatment
Patient education
Frequency: 5 days/week Duration: 6 weeks (30 sessions) Exercise intensity: 50-70% of Wmax Includes warm-up, aerobic phase, and cool-down
Kutahya Health Sciences University
Kütahya, Turkey (Türkiye)
Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire
RAQoL is a disease-specific instrument consisting of 30 items scored as yes/no. Total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating poorer quality of life. The Turkish version has established validity and reliability.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6 weeks (42th day)
Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)
HAQ evaluates functional ability in daily living activities using 20 items. Each item is scored from 0 (no difficulty) to 3 (unable to perform). The final score is calculated as the average of item scores, ranging from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating worse functional status.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6 weeks (42th day)
Functional Capacity (Cardiopulmonary Fitness)
VO₂ max (mL/kg/min) is measured using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a cycle ergometer. It is considered the gold standard for assessing aerobic capacity.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6 weeks (42th day)
6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
The 6MWT evaluates submaximal exercise capacity. Participants are instructed to walk as far as possible within 6 minutes on a 30-meter corridor. Total walking distance (meters) is recorded. Higher distances indicate better functional capacity.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6th week (42th day)
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
BDI is a 21-item self-reported questionnaire assessing depressive symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6 weeks (42th day)
Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
FSS is a 9-item scale assessing fatigue severity using Likert-type responses. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity.
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Visual analogue Scale for pain
Pain intensity is measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6th week (42th day)
Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28)
DAS-28 is a composite index including tender/swollen joint count, ESR or CRP levels, and patient global assessment. Lower scores indicate lower disease activity.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6 weeks (42th day)
Inflammatory Markers
C-reactive protein (CRP) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6 weeks (42th day)
The Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire
RAQoL is a disease-specific questionnaire consisting of 30 yes/no items. Scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating poorer quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of 6th weeks (42th day)