Effects of exercise on physical function and pain in adults with rheumatoid arthritis: an exit meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
George A Kelley, Kristi S Kelley, Kim M Huffman
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of exercise on physical function and pain in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using the Doi-Abdulmajeed Trial Stability (DAts) index. The analysis included 20 studies with 1487 participants for physical function and 14 studies with 998 participants for pain. The DAts index indicated a possible exit status for both outcomes, suggesting that further randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm stability.
Key findings
- DAts index for physical function was 0.0095 across 20 studies with 1487 participants.
- DAts index for pain was 0.0018 across 14 studies with 998 participants.
- Both outcomes indicated possible exit status, suggesting further research is needed.
- The findings support the American College of Rheumatology's moderate strength of evidence rating.
Why it matters
Understanding the stability of exercise effects on physical function and pain in RA is crucial for developing effective treatment guidelines. Clinicians can use this information to inform their patients about the potential benefits of exercise while recognizing the need for further research.