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 .
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 r and omly 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
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 .