Maintenance of physical activity after Internet-based physical activity interventions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To investigate the maintenance of physical activity 12 months after two 1-year Internet-based physical activity interventions in patients with RA.

Methods: This follow-up study was a randomized comparison of an Internet-based individualized training (IT) and a general training (GT) programme in sedentary RA patients. Outcome measures included physical activity (meeting public health recommendations for moderate physical activity, i.

Slowing of bone loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by long-term high-intensity exercise: results of a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more at risk for the development of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures than are their healthy peers. In this randomized, controlled, multicenter trial, the effectiveness of a 2-year high-intensity weight-bearing exercise program (the Rheumatoid-Arthritis-Patients-In-Training [RAPIT] program) on bone mineral density (BMD) was compared with usual care physical therapy, and the exercise modalities associated with changes in BMD were determined.

Methods: Three hundred nine patients with RA were assigned to an intervention group, either the RAPIT program or usual care physical therapy.

Is a long-term high-intensity exercise program effective and safe in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Results of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: There are insufficient data on the effects of long-term intensive exercise in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We undertook this randomized, controlled, multicenter trial to compare the effectiveness and safety of a 2-year intensive exercise program (Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients In Training [RAPIT]) with those of physical therapy (termed usual care [UC]).

Methods: Three hundred nine RA patients were assigned to either the RAPIT program or UC.