Effect of high-intensity interval training in physiotherapy primary care for patients with inflammatory arthritis: the ExeHeart randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) delivered in physiotherapy primary care on the primary outcome of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA). Additionally, to explore the effects of HIIT on secondary outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and disease activity.

Methods: Single-blinded randomised controlled trial with 60 patients randomly assigned to either a control group receiving usual care or an exercise group receiving usual care and 12 weeks of individualised HIIT at 90%-95% peak heart rate.

Criterion Validity and Responsiveness of Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness Models in Patients with Inflammatory Joint Disease.

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an excellent marker of overall health. This study aimed to assess criterion validity and responsiveness of estimated CRF models (eCRF) in patients with inflammatory joint disease (IJD). CRF was measured directly as peak oxygen uptake (VO) by a Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET), while one generic eCRF model (eCRF) and two disease-specific eCRF models (eCRF and eCRF) were used to estimate CRF at baseline and after 3 months in 55 Norwegian patients with IJD.

Adherence to a Web-based Exercise Programme: A Feasibility Study Among Patients with Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To describe adherence to a 12-week web-based aerobic exercise programme, to compare characteristics between those who adhere or not, and to identify barriers for exercising in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis.

Design: Single-arm feasibility study.

Subjects: Patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis in specialist healthcare, age 40-80 years, and not candidates for joint surgery.

Associations between cardiovascular risk factors, disease activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with inflammatory joint disease: a cross-sectional analysis.

Background: Inflammatory joint diseases (IJD) are accompanied by an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a modifiable CVD risk factor and low levels of CRF associate with an elevated CVD risk. This study aimed to investigate the associations between CVD risk factors, disease activity and CRF in patients with IJD and to explore differences between patients with normal versus low levels of CRF.

The AktiWeb study: feasibility of a web-based exercise program delivered by a patient organisation to patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Patient organisations may be an under-utilised resource in follow-up of patients requiring long-term exercise as part of their disease management. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of a web-based exercise program delivered by a patient organisation to patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: In this pre-post feasibility study, patients aged 40-80 years with hip and/or knee OA were recruited from Diakonhjemmet Hospital.