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 .
Can progressive resistance training reverse cachexia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Results of a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE . A Phase II trial was performed as a preliminary test of the efficacy and safety of progressive resistance training ( PRT ) as adjunct treatment for rheumatoid cachexia . METHODS Ten mildly disabled patients with well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) trained , on average , 2.5 times per week for 12 weeks . Ten age and sex matched RA patients with similar disease characteristics were non-r and omly assigned to a control group .  Body composition , physical function , and disease activity were assessed pre and post intervention period . RESULTS Between group comparisons at followup by ANCOVA using baseline scores as covariate showed significant increases in fat-free mass ( + 1253 g , p = 0.004 ) , total body protein ( + 1063 g , p = 0.044 ) , and arm ( + 280 g , p = 0.005 ) and leg ( + 839 g , p = 0.001 ) lean mass ( a proxy measure of total body skeletal muscle mass ) in response to PRT with no exacerbation of disease activity . There was also a trend for loss of fat mass in the trunk ( -752 g , p = 0.084 ) and a significant reduction in percent body fat ( -1.1 % , p = 0.047 ) . Changes in body composition were associated with improvements in various measures of physical function . CONCLUSION Intense PRT with adequate volume seems to be an effective and safe intervention for stimulating muscle growth in patients with RA . Pending confirmation of these results in a larger r and omized controlled trial that includes patients with more active and severe disease , a similar PRT program should be included in the management of RA as adjunct treatment for cachexia
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 .