Rausch A-K1,2, Niedermann K1, Braun J3, Adams J4, Brodin N5,6, Dagfinrud H7, Duruöz T8, Appel Esbensen B9,10, Günther K-P11, Hurkmans E12, Juhl C13,14, Kennedy N15, Kiltz U16, Knittle K17, Nurmohamed M18, Pais S19, Severijns G20, Swinnen TW21,22, Pitsillidou I23, Wartburtin L24, Yankov Z25, Vliet Vlieland TPM2
1Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Physiotherapy, Winterthur, Switzerland, 2Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, Leiden, Netherlands, 3Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Rheumatologie, Herne, Germany, 4University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences and Arthritis Research UK Centre of Excellence for Sport, Exercise and Osteoathritis, Southampton, United Kingdom, 5Karolinska Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Huddinge, Sweden, 6Danderyd University Hospital, Orthopaedics, Stockholm, Sweden, 7Diakonhjemmet Hospital, National Advisory Unit on Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Oslo, Norway, 8Marmara University, PMR Department, Rheumatology Division, Istanbul, Turkey, 9Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark, 10University of Copenhagen, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark, 11University Medicine at Technische Universität Dresden, University Center of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dresden, Germany, 12Ecorys, Department Social Affaire and Health, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 13University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, 14University of Copenhagen, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, 15University of Limerick, School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences and Health Research Institute, Limerick, Ireland, 16Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, Germany, 17University of Helsinki, Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Helsinki, Finland, 18VU University Medical Center, Rheumatology, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 19University of Algarve, Centre for Biomedical Research, Faro, Portugal, 20EULAR PARE, Brussel, Belgium, 21University Hospital and University Leuven, Rheumatology, Leuven, Belgium, 22KU Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Leuven, Belgium, 23EULAR Patient Research Partner, Nicosia, Cyprus, 24Keele University, Primary Health Care Sciences, Keele, United Kingdom, 25EULAR PARE, Sofia, Bulgaria
Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is increasingly promoted for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases as well as the general population. We evaluated if the public health recommendations for PA are applicable for people with inflammatory arthritis (iA; Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis) and osteoarthritis (hip/knee OA).
Purpose: To develop evidence-based recommendations for advice and guidance on PA in clinical practice.
Methods: The EULAR standardised operating procedures for the development of recommendations were followed. A task force (TF) (including rheumatologists, other medical specialists and physicians, health professionals, patient-representatives, methodologists) from 16 countries met twice. In the first TF meeting, 13 research questions to support a systematic literature review (SLR) were identified and defined. In the second meeting, the SLR evidence was presented and discussed before the recommendations, research agenda and education agenda were formulated.
Results: The TF developed and agreed on four overarching principles and ten recommendations for PA in people with iA and OA. The mean level of agreement between the TF members ranged between 9.8 to 8.8. Given the evidence for its effectiveness, feasibility and safety, PA is advocated as integral part of standard care throughout the course of these diseases. Finally, the TF agreed on related research and education agendas.
Conclusion(s): Evidence and expert opinion inform these recommendations to provide guidance in the development, conduct and evaluation of PA-interventions and promotion in people with iA and OA. It is advised that these recommendations should be implemented considering individual needs and national health systems.
Implications: Although the public health recommendations for PA are well established, the feasibility and applicability of these for people with iA and OA has not been assessed so far. Accordingly, the development of the recommendations was needed. Expectedly, they emphasise the importance of PA and will guide future PA-interventions in people with chronic rheumatic conditions.
Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, hip/knee osteoarthritis
Funding acknowledgements: EULAR project
Purpose: To develop evidence-based recommendations for advice and guidance on PA in clinical practice.
Methods: The EULAR standardised operating procedures for the development of recommendations were followed. A task force (TF) (including rheumatologists, other medical specialists and physicians, health professionals, patient-representatives, methodologists) from 16 countries met twice. In the first TF meeting, 13 research questions to support a systematic literature review (SLR) were identified and defined. In the second meeting, the SLR evidence was presented and discussed before the recommendations, research agenda and education agenda were formulated.
Results: The TF developed and agreed on four overarching principles and ten recommendations for PA in people with iA and OA. The mean level of agreement between the TF members ranged between 9.8 to 8.8. Given the evidence for its effectiveness, feasibility and safety, PA is advocated as integral part of standard care throughout the course of these diseases. Finally, the TF agreed on related research and education agendas.
Conclusion(s): Evidence and expert opinion inform these recommendations to provide guidance in the development, conduct and evaluation of PA-interventions and promotion in people with iA and OA. It is advised that these recommendations should be implemented considering individual needs and national health systems.
Implications: Although the public health recommendations for PA are well established, the feasibility and applicability of these for people with iA and OA has not been assessed so far. Accordingly, the development of the recommendations was needed. Expectedly, they emphasise the importance of PA and will guide future PA-interventions in people with chronic rheumatic conditions.
Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, hip/knee osteoarthritis
Funding acknowledgements: EULAR project
Topic: Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Kantonale Ethikkommission Zurich
Ethics committee: Kantonale Ethikkommission Zurich
Reason not required: recommendation development based on Literature Review, no data collected
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
