ELDERLY RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS PATIENTS ON STEROID TREATMENT TOLERATE PHYSICAL-TRAINING WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN DISEASE-ACTIVITY

The effects of physical training on elderly, fragile patients with rhe umatoid arthritis (RA) who are on low-dose steroids were investigated. The controlled study included 24 patients who had been treated with l ow-dose steroids for 2 years. Each patient was assigned either to a tr eatment group receiving training or to an untrained control group. The training took place over a 3-month period and was based on a protocol using progressive interval training consisting of bicycle exercises, heel lifts, and step-climbing. The exercises were performed twice week ly for 45 minutes. Comparison of the two groups showed that disease ac tivity did not increase in the trained group and that fewer, but not s ignificantly fewer, swollen joints were observed in this group (p = 0. 06). No significant changes were noticed in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, tender joints, or morning stiffness. The work capacity of the tr ained patients was doubled and the numbers of repetitions increased 76 %. Individually adapted exercise programs can therefore be recommended for elderly rheumatoid arthritis patients on steroid treatment.