AB1642-PARE GET IN SHAPE - EXERCISE AS MEDICINE FOR RHEUMATIC DISEASE
Authors: O. M. Wold
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> About 1.2 million people are living with a rheumatic disease (RMDs) or muscle and skeleton disease (MUSD) in Norway, and due to all difficulties living with chronic illness, cost the society 265 billion each year [1]. Central to the Norwegian association of rheumatic disease (NRF) are programs or activities linked to mastery of living with chronic disease, increased knowledge, adapted exercise, help to self-help and social activities to stimulate enhanced quality of life. Numerus of those with RMDs becomes inactive or passive in daily living as a direct cause of the disease or side effects of their medical treatment. Even though exercise is an important part of treatment, there are numerus who come out of an examination with a doctor or hospital without a concrete follow-up with exercise for their condition/illness. Recent research shows that people with RMDs can benefit from training at a much higher level of intensity than previously understood, without this causing the negative consequences previously warned against. On the contrary, exercise and physical activity will help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and strength exercise and aerobic training can improve health profile [2,3]. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The aim of this project was to help people with RDMs to experience an increase of experience in quality of life through activities and exercise, and to simplify the research results. And to do develop an easy and applicable campaign to enhance the physical activity level in people with RDMs in Norway. <h3>Methods:</h3> The foundation of the method is based on a combination between of the organizations peer support education and how to master chronic disease. The communication was through text message with a simple message of content. A home page with information about the project as the participants could use. The participants received monthly exercise programs and videos, motivation, recommendations to food or diet, exercise, knowledge, and research. A plan was to conduct a survey pre and post project phase. <h3>Results:</h3> The project phase lasted for 8 months with eight different themes of focus and around three thousand active participants. There was between 1500-2000 members in our Facebook group, whereas numerus shared their experiences and supported one another. Our survey results told us 88,7% were women, 70,7% participated partly and only 9,8% participated in all. We conducted a two-part survey of questions about quality of life, and their physical activity habits. We asked the participants "<i>what are your physical activity habits before you entered the project?</i>" with respond possibilities; inactive, a little active, active, and highly active. 8,8% were inactive, 36% a little active, 44% active and 9% highly active. When we asked the participants after the project, the responders answered, 4% inactive, 15% a little active, 55% active and 24% highly active. The survey feedback results had lack of lower exercise levels for the participants. This campaign inspirated ActiWeb study of how a digitalized delivered program can enhance physical function and capacity in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> A simplified exercise as medicine campaign delivered from a patient organization as a text message and/or a homepage is associated with enhanced physical activity level in people with RMDs. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> [1] REMUS-raport. (2019). MUSD in Norway: Rammer flest - koster mest. Menon Economics. [2] Rehn TA, Winett RA, Wisloff U, Rognmo O (2013) Increasing physical activity of high intensity to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases and improve public health. Open Cardiovasc Med J 7: 1–8. [3] Sveaas SH, Smedslund G, Hagen KB, Dagfinrud H. Effect of cardiorespiratory and strength exercises on disease activity in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine. 2017. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> I wish to acknowledge all of the participants in the project and participants. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>