Supervised interval and strength training reduced fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis
A randomized trial found greater fatigue improvements than activity counseling, with some differences still present at later follow-up.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The supervised exercise group reported greater improvements in several fatigue dimensions and health-related quality of life than the counseling group. Some differences persisted at later assessments, but the pattern varied by outcome and timepoint. These results concern the combined supervised program in people with rheumatoid arthritis; they do not establish the contribution of either exercise component alone.
The abstract does not report adverse events, exercise adherence or sleep results, despite measuring sleep. It also gives limited estimates for the final follow-up, so the longer-term size of most reported benefits cannot be judged.
What researchers found
General fatigue score change
Mean between-group difference in change on the MFI-20 general fatigue subscale at 3 months; supervised exercise versus activity counseling.
Early reported changes
The first follow-up favored exercise for general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity and reduced motivation. Health-related quality of life also favored exercise, based on questionnaires participants completed to describe their own symptoms and health.
Later findings were narrower
At 12 months, reported significant differences concerned physical fatigue, depressive mood, pain and health-related quality of life. The abstract does not list every earlier fatigue dimension as significantly improved at that point, so persistence should be described outcome by outcome.
The original publication
High-intensity exercise improves multidimensional fatigue and health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled study.
Bilberg A, Bjersing J, Börjesson M et al.
Arthritis Res Ther · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40968365
- Record checked
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