3 ) short-term , water-based aerobic capacity training , which results show limited evidence for a positive effect on functional ability and aerobic capacity .
( 4 ) long-term , l and -based aerobic capacity and muscle strength training , which results show moderate evidence for a positive effect on aerobic capacity and muscle strength .
With respect to safety , no deleterious effects were found in any of the included studies .
Based on the evidence , aerobic capacity training combined with muscle strength training is recommended as routine practice in patients with RA
BACKGROUND An up-to- date overview of the effectiveness and safety of dynamic exercise therapy ( exercise therapy with a sufficient intensity , duration , and frequency to establish improvement in aerobic capacity and /or muscle strength ) is lacking .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and safety of short-term ( < three months ) and long-term ( > three months ) dynamic exercise therapy programs ( aerobic capacity and /or muscle strength training ) , either l and or water-based , for people with RA .
To do this we up date d a previous Cochrane review ( van den Ende 1998 ) and made categories for the different forms of dynamic exercise programs .
Physical and exercise therapy for treatment of the rheumatoid hand.
OBJECTIVE To study the short-term effects of physical therapy ( ice massage or wax packs , thermal baths , and faradic h and baths ) and exercise therapy on the rheumatoid h and . METHODS The effect of individual physical therapy and exercise therapy programs was evaluated in 50 r and omly selected rheumatoid arthritis in patients ( 38 women and 12 men ) . Mean patient age ( + /- SD ) was 47.94 + /- 11.22 years , and mean disease duration was 5.04 + /- 4.80 years . The control group consisted of 50 r and omly selected rheumatoid arthritis out patients ( 37 women and 13 men ; mean age 48.46 + /- 10.65 years , mean duration of disease 5.23 + /- 4.89 years ) who at the time of the investigation were not receiving any physical or exercise therapy .  The clinical indices used for evaluation of inflammation included erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ) , pain intensity , proximal interphalangeal ( PIP ) joint size , and Ritchie articular index . H and grip strength , palmar tip-to-tip and key pinch finger strength , finger range of motion , and activities of daily living ( ADL ) were the parameters used to assess the functional h and status . The study was single-blinded and of 3 weeks duration . RESULTS In the physical therapy treated group , there was an improvement for most of the observed indices from baseline parameters that achieved statistical significance ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.005 ) after the 3-week study period . ESR and PIP joint size improved clinical ly but failed to reach statistical significance . Patients had a more significant improvement in h and pain , joint tenderness , and ADL score ( P < 0.005 ) than in range of motion ( P < 0.01 ) . All parameters in the control group slightly deteriorated over the study period . CONCLUSION At least in the short term , physical and , particularly , exercise therapy produce a favorable improvement in the functional status of the rheumatoid h and
3 ) short-term , water-based aerobic capacity training , which results show limited evidence for a positive effect on functional ability and aerobic capacity .
( 4 ) long-term , l and -based aerobic capacity and muscle strength training , which results show moderate evidence for a positive effect on aerobic capacity and muscle strength .
With respect to safety , no deleterious effects were found in any of the included studies .
Based on the evidence , aerobic capacity training combined with muscle strength training is recommended as routine practice in patients with RA
BACKGROUND An up-to- date overview of the effectiveness and safety of dynamic exercise therapy ( exercise therapy with a sufficient intensity , duration , and frequency to establish improvement in aerobic capacity and /or muscle strength ) is lacking .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and safety of short-term ( < three months ) and long-term ( > three months ) dynamic exercise therapy programs ( aerobic capacity and /or muscle strength training ) , either l and or water-based , for people with RA .
To do this we up date d a previous Cochrane review ( van den Ende 1998 ) and made categories for the different forms of dynamic exercise programs .