Conclusion Exercises and PA promotion according to public health recommendations  for PA improved cardiovascular fitness , muscle strength and PA behaviour , with moderate effect sizes in people with SpA , RA and HOA/KOA .
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise and physical activity ( PA ) promotion on cardiovascular fitness , muscle strength , flexibility , neuromotor performance ( eg , balance ) and daily PA in people with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) , spondyloarthritis ( SpA ) and hip/knee osteoarthritis ( HOA/KOA ) .
Engagement and satisfaction with an Internet-based physical activity intervention in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE To assess the engagement in and satisfaction with an Internet-mediated physical activity intervention with individual supervision in patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) . METHODS The intervention studied was one of the two strategies aim ed at enhancing physical activity in RA patients that were being compared in a r and omized controlled trial . A total of 82 patients , all experienced in using Internet and e-mail and registered at three different rheumatology out-patient clinics , were r and omly allocated to the Internet-mediated individualized intervention ( 52 weeks ) . They had access to personal physical activity schedules and received individual supervision by a physical therapist by means of weekly e-mail feedback . In addition , telephone contacts , an online discussion forum , six face-to-face group meetings and electronic newsletters were offered . Besides registration of returned physical activity schedules , engagement and satisfaction were measured through question naires . RESULTS The median physical activity schedule return rate of the 82 participants was 55 % . The mean number of patients logging into the website at least once a week was 53 ( 70 % ) over 12 months . Of all patients , 69 returned the question naires ( response 84 % ) . Telephone contacts were used by 38/67 patients ( 57 % ) , the mean ( SD ) number of attended group meetings was 3.1 ( 1.5 ) and the discussion forum comprised 15 posted messages . Overall , the proportions of patients being ( very ) satisfied with the amount of e-mail contacts , telephone contacts , usefulness of website information , physical activity schedules , group meetings and website layout were > /=85 % . A smaller proportion of patients were satisfied with the links to other websites ( 68 % ) , the newsletters ( 55 % ) and the online discussion forum ( 32 % ) . CONCLUSION Physical activity schedules with weekly feedback by e-mail , telephone contacts and a limited number of group meetings were frequently used website tools and modes of communication of an Internet-based physical activity intervention , with high-satisfaction rates from RA patients . Discussion forum and newsletters were less used and appreciated . Caution should be taken when extrapolating the results found to groups of patients who are not experienced Internet and e-mail users or patients with more severe physical disabilities
Conclusion Exercises and PA promotion according to public health recommendations  for PA improved cardiovascular fitness , muscle strength and PA behaviour , with moderate effect sizes in people with SpA , RA and HOA/KOA .
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise and physical activity ( PA ) promotion on cardiovascular fitness , muscle strength , flexibility , neuromotor performance ( eg , balance ) and daily PA in people with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) , spondyloarthritis ( SpA ) and hip/knee osteoarthritis ( HOA/KOA ) .