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 .
A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of community based physical therapy in the treatment of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short term efficacy of a community based physical therapy ( PT ) program for people with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) through a single blind r and omized controlled trial . METHODS Adults with active RA were referred by their physician for community based PT . Participants were r and omized to either an  immediate intervention group [ experimental group ( EG ) ] or a wait list control group  ( CG ) . The intervention was a st and ardized program of education and exercise consisting of at least 4 visits or 3 h of PT over 6 weeks . Baseline , 6 , and 12 week assessment s were by a blinded independent assessor . The primary outcome instrument was the Stanford Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale ( SES ) and secondary outcome measures included the ACREU Rheumatoid Arthritis Knowledge Question naire ( KQ ) and visual analog scale for pain ( VAS ) . Duration of morning stiffness , grip strength , and tender joint count were also collected at each assessment . Outcome analysis was conducted using analysis of variance . RESULTS Of 150 eligible and r and omized participants , 127 completed the study according to protocol . Baseline analysis showed no differences between the EG and CG for demographics , disease status , or other characteristics . At the 6 week assessment , primary outcome analysis for those who completed the protocol identified a mean change ( improvement ) of 13.5 % in the EG and 5.8 % in the CG , representing a 7.7 % difference in change scores between the 2 groups [ F(1,121 ) = 6.03 ; p = 0.015 ] . A statistically significant difference in change scores was also identified for the KQ [ F(1,120 ) = 6.67 ; p = 0.011 ] , but not for the VAS . Disease status measures did not change , except for duration of morning stiffness , which improved by 68.8 min in the EG and 8.3 min in the CG ( F(1,121 ) = 4.50 ; p = 0.036 ] . CONCLUSION Four hours of a community based PT intervention delivered over 6 weeks significantly improved self-efficacy , disease management knowledge and morning stiffness in people with RA
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 .