More evidence exercise helps arthritis sufferers

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Moderate exercise can help older adults with arthritis ease their pain and fatigue, a new study suggests.

Past research has shown that exercise may help older adults forestall the disabling effects of arthritis. The new study, published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, looked at an exercise program developed by the Arthritis Foundation called PACE -- for People with Arthritis Can Exercise.

The program is offered in eight-week series of twice-weekly classes designed to help arthritis sufferers fit moderate physical activity into their lives. It is available in many U.S. communities, at senior centers and fitness centers, for example.

Yet only a few small pilot studies have looked at whether PACE is effective.

For the current study, researchers led by Dr. Leigh F. Callahan of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill followed 346 older adults who participated in PACE at various senior centers, retirement communities and churches in North Carolina.

At the end of the eight-week program, participants generally reported improvements in their pain and fatigue, and said they had more confidence in their ability to manage their arthritis. And those who attended the most classes tended to fare best; along with improved symptoms, they developed greater strength and mobility in their arms and legs.

Six months after the program ended, participants were still reporting less pain and fatigue -- though, overall, their arm and leg function had declined.

"If adults with arthritis attend a majority of PACE classes, they may expect improvements in symptoms, self-efficacy for arthritis management, and upper and lower extremity function," Callahan's team writes.

However, they add, to maintain lasting improvements, people may need to stick with the classes beyond the basic eight-week series.

SOURCE: Arthritis Care & Research, January 15, 2008.