Feasibility of an eight-week dance-based exercise program and its effects on locomotor ability of persons with functional class III rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives. The main objectives of this experimental case series were to ev aluate the feasibility of a modified dance-based exercise program with low ground impacts in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) functional class I II and to describe its effects on locomotor ability. The relationship betwe en 3 locomotor tests and their responsiveness also were addressed. Methods. Ten female subjects participated in an 8-week exercise program. Lo comotor ability was measured before and after the program using the 50-foot test of walking time, the 6-minute test of walking distance, and the locom otion biomechanical analysis. Results. All subjects showed a high compliance (92.5% presence at sessions) over the 8 weeks of exercise without any aggravation in disease status. Th ey were able to train efficiently at moderate intensity up to 25 minutes. S ignificant improvements were found in locomotor ability, with a higher resp onsiveness measured by the locomotion biomechanical analysis, followed by t he 8-minute gait test and the 50-foot gait test, inconsistent relationships between tests suggested that different locomotor abilities are required du ring tests. Conclusion. These results support the feasibility of a modified dance-based exercise program for persons with severe RA, with high levels of responsiv eness, the detailed biomechanical analysis and the 6-minute gait test are r ecommended for the assessment of locomotor ability.