Fifteenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition associated with poor health outcomes including a high prevalence of poor body composition in RA patients. Further, work productivity and physical activity are reportedly low in RA patients. Notwithstanding the benefits of eccentric exercise, there is a lack of information on its effects on health outcomes in RA patients. This study investigates the effects of eccentric exercise interventions on health outcomes in RA patients. Thirty-seven RA patients participated in the study and were randomized into control and exercise groups. RA patients in the exercise group (N=18) participated in a 12-week eccentric exercise intervention to determine its effects on rheumatoid body composition, blood pressure, work-related performance, and physical activity levels. The control group (N-19) followed their physicians’ treatments. Results: The eccentric exercise intervention significantly increased RA patients’ muscle mass (+ 0.155 p < 0.05) in the EG post-testing. The EG showed a significant reduction in body fat % (-0.47 p < 0.05), The systolic and diastolic BP of the EG significantly improved (-3.19 p < 0.05; -1.49 p < 0.05). The findings confirm that eccentric exercise is a safe and effective intervention that could promote positive health outcomes in RA patients.