Tailored Exercise Programs Significantly Improve Physical Activity Among Patients With RA

Exercise interventions based on self-determination theory (SDT) may improve the physical activity abilities of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to results of a new study.

“Results suggest an SDT-based psychological intervention comprising autonomy-supportive strategies for [physical activity] predicted greater reported autonomous reasons for [physical activity] in RA patients participating in a tailored 3-month exercise program,” the researchers wrote.

The exercise program was personalized per participant based on baseline fitness and physical activity abilities, and consisted of three 30-minute sessions per week.

At baseline and after 3 months of intervention, participants completed assessments that measured RA disease activity, physical health, cardiorespiratory fitness, and questionnaires to assess autonomous and controlled motivation for physical activity, moderate to vigorous physical activity, and psychological well-being.

At baseline, all participants had RA and were recruited from outpatient clinics in the United Kingdom. Participants were randomly assigned to either psychological intervention plus an RA-tailored exercise program (n=59) or an RA-tailored exercise program only (n=56) for 3 months.

Overall, the intervention showed positive results for autonomous motivation and controlled motivation for physical activity after 3 months. Autonomous motivation was higher and controlled motivation for physical activity was lower at 3 months compared with baseline measurements.

In addition, changes in autonomous motivation from baseline to 3 months significantly positively predicted changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity and subjective vitality.

“The provision of autonomy-supportive strategies in the health care setting can support the adoption of more physically active lifestyles and improved psychological well-being among people living with rheumatoid arthritis, through promoting more autonomous reasons for engagement,” the researchers concluded.

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Fenton SAM, Veldhuijzen van Zanten JJCS, Metsios GS, et al. Testing a self-determination theory-based process model of physical activity behavior change in rheumatoid arthritis: results of a randomized controlled trial [published online March 23, 2020]. Transl Behav Med. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaa022.