OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to show the effects of different exercise types on disease activity, pain, functional status, and quality of life in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis with low disease activity or in remission and supported these findings with body composition and muscle measurements. DESIGN: This randomized controlled prospective study screened female patients aged 20 to 50 year old with rheumatoid arthritis. The patients were randomized into 12-week resistance exercise, aerobic exercise, and control groups. RESULTS: The mean age of the 66 patients was 42.5 +/- 5.6 years. In the resistance and aerobic exercise groups compared to the control group, a positive significant difference was found in the pain, disease activity, several sub-parameters of quality of life, M.Gastrocnemius and M.Biceps Femoris muscle thickness measurements, and fat mass in the lower extremities before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Compared to the other groups, the resistance exercise group showed a significant improvement in M.Rectus Femoris and M.Vastus Intermedius muscle thickness measurements, whole body fat mass, whole body and lower extremity lean body mass, and timed up-and-go test when comparing before and after treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In rheumatoid arthritis patients, resistance exercises led to a significant increase in muscle thickness, functional status, lean body mass compared to other exercises; resistance exercises also resulted in a significant reduction in pain and disease activity.

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