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High-intensity interval training well-tolerated by women with RA, adults with JIA
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High-intensity interval training was well-tolerated by women with rheumatoid arthritis and adults with juvenile-onset idiopathic arthritis and may be beneficial, according to the results of a study.
Researchers recruited seven women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 11 adult women with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) into a cross-over pilot study. Patients were between the ages of 20 years and 50 years and were excluded in the presence of an existing exercise regimen of two times a week or more, a change in medication in the prior 2 months, participation in 80% or less of the program, active disease, pregnancy, lactation or another disease such as heart or lung disease. Patients served as their own control group (baseline) and were randomly assigned to participate in an exercise regimen or a control period of normal daily activities.
Twice a week, participants engaged in supervised, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with four 4-minute intervals at 85% to 95% maximum heart rate (HRmax) after a 10-minute warm-up at around 70% HRmax for 10 weeks on spinning bicycles.
Before and after the exercise sessions and control periods, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), heart rate recovery (HRR), blood pressure, body composition and other blood criteria were monitored. Disease activity was measured, and patients completed questionnaires related to the activity and disease.
The VO2max increased by 12.2% from baseline and the 1-minute HRR increased by 2.9% after HIIT. No changes were observed in the control group, according to the researchers.
BMI, total body fat and waist circumference in the HIIT group decreased by 1.2% following HIIT, but no significant changes were seen in blood pressure. Serum levels of hemoglobin decreased by 2.2%, and ferritin was reduced by 24%. C-reactive protein trended downward from 1.98 mg/L to 1.23 mg/L in the HIIT group, but no other changes in blood laboratory values were observed.
No changes in disease activity were observed, and although fatigue score did not change in the HIIT group, a significant decrease in fatigue scores were observed in the control group, according to the researchers. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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