C.H.M. van den Ende

Effect of intensive exercise on patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of a dynamic, intensive exercise regimen on pain, disease activity, and physical functioning in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS 64 patients with RA with a mean age of 60 (13) years and mean disease duration of 8 (8) years, admitted to hospital because of active disease, were randomly assigned to an intensive exercise programme or to a conservative exercise programme during their period in hospital with a mean length of 30 (14) days. The intensive exercise programme consisted of knee and shoulder dynamic and isometric muscle strengthening exercises against resistance five times a week and conditioning bicycle training three times a week and was supplemental to the conservative exercise programme of range of motion and isometric exercises. Indices of disease activity, pain, muscle strength, and functional ability were assessed at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks by a blinded observer. RESULTS The medical treatment during the study was the same in both groups. Both groups improved in measures of disease activity, differences between groups were not statistically significant. The mean improvement in disease activity score at 24 weeks in the intensive and conservative exercise group was −1.4 (1.5) and −0.7 (1.4), respectively. Measures of physical functioning improved significantly for patients in the intensive exercise group, and differences between groups were statistically significant for measures of muscle strength. CONCLUSION A short term intensive exercise programme in active RA is more effective in improving muscle strength than a conservative exercise programme and does not have deleterious effects on disease activity.

Comparison of high and low intensity training in well controlled rheumatoid arthritis. Results of a randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the benefit of intensive dynamic exercises in comparison to range of motion (ROM) and isometric exercises in rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: 100 consecutive rheumatoid arthritis patients on stable medication were randomly assigned to (1) intensive dynamic group exercises which included full weight bearing exercises and conditioning exercises on a stationary bicycle while the heart rate was maintained at 70-85% of the age predicted maximum heart rate, (2) range of motion (ROM) exercises and isometric exercises in a group, (3) individual isometric and ROM exercises, and (4) home instructions for isometric and ROM exercises. Variables of physical condition, muscle strength, joint mobility, daily functioning (HAQ), and disease activity were assessed before and after the 12 week exercise course, and 12 weeks thereafter. An intention to treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: Increases in aerobic capacity (n = 77), muscle strength, and joint mobility in the high intensity exercise programme were respectively 17%, 17% and 16% and differed significantly from the changes in aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and joint mobility in the other exercise groups. No deterioration of disease activity was observed. Twelve weeks after discontinuation of the exercise course the gain in physical capacity had disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive dynamic training is more effective in increasing aerobic capacity, joint mobility, and muscle strength than ROM exercises and isometric training in rheumatoid arthritis patients with well controlled disease.

Medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a critical appraisal of the existing literature

Adherence to medication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is low, varying from 30 to 80%. Improving adherence to therapy could therefore dramatically improve the efficacy of drug therapy. Although indicators for suboptimal adherence can be useful to identify nonadherent patients, and could function as targets for adherence-improving interventions, no indicators are yet found to be consistently and strongly related to nonadherence. Despite this, nonadherence behavior could conceptually be categorized into two subtypes: unintentional (due to forgetfulness, regimen complexity or physical problems) and intentional (based on the patient’s decision to take no/less medication). In case of intentional nonadherence, patients seem to make a benefit–risk analysis weighing the perceived risks of the treatment against the perceived benefits. This weighing process may be influenced by the patient’s beliefs about medication, the patient’s self-efficacy and the patient’s knowledge of the disease. This implicates that besides tackling practical barriers, clinicians should be sensitive to patient’s personal beliefs that may impact medication adherence.

Comparison of the responsiveness of the Harris Hip Score with generic measures for hip function in osteoarthritis of the hip

Objective: To compare responsiveness of the Harris Hip Score with generic measures (that is, the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and a test of walking speed and pain during walking) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Method: The first 75 cases within the population of a randomised clinical trial on manual therapy and exercise therapy were selected for secondary analysis. Experienced (self reported) recovery by the patients after treatment (five weeks) was used as an external criterion for clinically relevant improvement. Responsiveness was evaluated by comparing responsiveness ratios and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: The responsiveness ratio for the Harris Hip Score was high (1.70) compared with walking speed (0.45), pain during walking (0.66), and the subscales of the SF-36—“bodily pain” (0.42) and “physical functioning” (0.36). The area under the curve also was highest for the Harris Hip Score (0.92) compared with walking speed (0.71), pain during walking (0.73), and the SF-36 subscales—bodily pain and physical functioning (both 0.66). Conclusion: The Harris Hip Score is more responsive than the test of walking speed, pain, and subscales for function of the SF-36 in patients with OA of the hip. The Harris Hip Score seems to be a suitable instrument to evaluate change in hip function in patients with OA of the hip.

Evidence-based tailored conservative treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis: between knowing and doing

Objective: Insufficient data are available on the efficacy of combined conservative interventions recommended by treatment guidelines for knee/hip osteoarthritis (OA). The aims of this observational cohort study were (i) to estimate the results of an evidence-based 12-week tailored multimodal conservative treatment protocol for patients with knee/hip OA and (ii) to identify predictors for response. Methods: After obtaining data on previous OA-related interventions, multimodal treatment was offered to patients with knee and/or hip OA at a specialized outpatient clinic. Treatment with analgesics was tailored using a numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain, aiming for NRS ≤ 4. The following outcome measures were assessed: (i) the proportion of patients fulfilling OMERACT-OARSI (Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials/Osteoarthritis Research Society International) responder criteria and (ii) the proportion of patients with NRS pain ≤ 4 after 12 weeks. Results: A total of 183 out of 299 patients was included. OMERACT-OARSI responder criteria were fulfilled at 12 weeks in 47% of patients; 39% reached NRS pain ≤ 4. The only independent predictor for response was the number of previously used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The majority of patients had not been exposed adequately to conservative treatment modalities for knee and/or hip OA in the past (81%). Conclusion: Evidence-based multimodal conservative treatment using a standardized protocol for knee and/or hip OA is feasible and successful in 47% of patients. In general, response could not be predicted. Basic first-line recommended conservative treatment options have not been used adequately prior to referral to secondary care in the vast majority of patients.

Preoperative therapeutic exercise in frail elderly scheduled for total hip replacement: a randomized pilot trial

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of therapeutic exercise before total hip replacement in frail elderly. Design: A single-blind, randomized clinical pilot trial. Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy department. Subjects: Frail elderly with hip osteoarthritis awaiting total hip replacement. Interventions: A short (3—6 weeks) tailor-made, therapeutic exercise programme was compared with usual care. Main measures: Feasibility was assessed through patient satisfaction, adherence, occurrence of adverse events and the number of eligible non-volunteers. Preliminary preoperative effectiveness was assessed with performance and self-reported measures of pain, functioning, physical activity and quality of life. Postoperatively we measured functional recovery and length of hospital stay. Results: Sixty-two eligible patients were approached of whom 21 (mean age 76 years) agreed to participate. Exercisers (n = 10), rated the intervention as very good 8.9 (8—10) (10-point rating scale). No serious adverse events occurred. Forty-one (66%) eligible patients did not participate, mainly because of logistic considerations, resulting in selection bias. The intervention group (trainings sessions participated 91%) showed relevant preoperative improvements on the chair-rise time (delta —2.9 seconds; 95% confidence interval (CI) —6.2 to 0.4) and timed-up-and-go (delta —4.4 seconds; 95% CI —9.3 to 0.5). Postoperatively, no significant differences were seen. Conclusions: A short, tailor-made, exercise programme is well tolerated and appreciated in elderly patients awaiting total hip replacement. However, a larger randomized clinical trial in the same setting is not warranted, because of the high number of eligible non-volunteers.

The impact of waiting for total joint replacement on pain and functional status: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE To systematically describe changes in pain and functioning in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) awaiting total joint replacement (TJR), and to assess determinants of this change. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Database were searched through June 2008. The reference lists of eligible publications were reviewed. Studies that monitored pain and functioning in patients with hip or knee OA during the waiting list for TJR were analyzed. Data were collected with a pre-specified collection tool. Methodological quality was assessed and a best-evidence analysis was performed to summarize results. RESULTS Fifteen studies, of which two were of high quality, were included and involved 788 hip and 858 knee patients (mean age 59-72 and main wait 42-399 days). There was strong evidence that pain (in hip and knee OA) and self-reported functioning (in hip OA) do not deteriorate during a <180 days wait. Conflicting evidence was established for the change on self-reported functioning in patients with knee OA waiting <180 days. Moreover, strong evidence was found for an association between the female gender and intensified pain. CONCLUSION Patients with OA do not experience deterioration in pain or self-reported functional status whilst waiting <180 days for TJR. Changes over a longer waiting period are unclear. To strengthen and complement the present evidence, further high-quality studies are needed, in which preferably also performance-based measures are used.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training on Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fatigue is not being well‐managed currently, and evidence of effective interventions is limited. Aerobic exercise may provide benefit to treat fatigue in RA. Therefore, the purpose of this meta‐analysis is to analyze the effect of aerobic land‐based exercise on fatigue in RA.

Prevalence and predictors of health care use in patients with early hip or knee osteoarthritis: two-year follow-up data from the CHECK cohort

OBJECTIVE To describe health care utilization (HCU) and predict analgesic use and health professional (HP) contact at baseline and 2 years in individuals with early symptomatic hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN Baseline and two-year data on HCU of the 1002 participants from the multi-centre Cohort Hip & Cohort Knee study were used. Six forms of health care services were described: analgesic use, supplement use, contact with a General Practitioner (GP), contact with a HP, contact in secondary care, and alternative medicine use. Multivariable logistic regression was performed in order to identify predisposing, enabling and disease-related variables that predict analgesic use and HP contact at 2 years; treatment modalities of first choice in early OA. RESULTS For the hip (n=170), the knee (n=414) and the hip and knee (n=418) group analgesic use (38%, 29% and 47%, respectively), contact with a GP (32%, 38% and 36%, respectively) and contact with a HP (26%, 18% and 20%, respectively), were reported most often at baseline. Contact with a GP significantly decreased, supplement use increased (to about one third), and other treatment modalities remained stable at 2 years. In all three groups, analgesic use at baseline was the strongest predictor for analgesic use at 2 years, whereas contact with a HP at baseline was the strongest predictor of contact with a HP after 2 years. Belonging to a first generation minority was a predisposing risk factor [Odds Ratio (95%-CI), 8.72 (1.55-48.97)] for analgesic use in the hip and knee group. CONCLUSIONS In early OA, familiarity with HCU and other predisposing factors are, apart from disease-related factors strongly associated with HCU at 2 years. Further research is necessary to examine whether our findings reflect sub-optimal management of early OA in terms of efficacy and equity.

How vigorously should we exercise our rheumatoid arthritis patients

The deleterious effects of joint inflammation on joint mobility, muscle strength, and daily function have been well recognised. The traditionally prescribed local and systemic rest for the inflamed joints will increase these adverse effects. Physiotherapy, in particular, exercise therapy, is therefore one of the cornerstones of the management of rheumatoid arthritis. The primary goal of exercise therapy is to improve joint mobility, muscle strength, and aerobic and functional capacity. Gentle passive and active range of motion (ROM) exercises together with isometric muscle exercises are the most frequently prescribed treatments and are still recommended in the textbooks, in particular for the patients with active disease. Weight bearing and conditioning exercises have long been discouraged because of fear of damaging the joints. But are isometric and stretching exercises powerful enough to improve muscle strength, physical condition, and ultimately functional capacity? Functional capacity, in particular, is the major outcome variable of our therapeutic efforts in rheumatoid arthritis. Therapeutic interventions capable of improving functional capacity have, therefore, high priority.