OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of high-intensity progressive resistance training in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared with healthy control subjects. METHODS: Eight subjects with RA, 8 healthy young subjects, and 8 healthy elderly subjects underwent 12 weeks of high-intensity progressive resistance training, while 6 elderly subjects performed warm-up exercises only. Fitness, body composition, energy expenditure, function, disease activity, pain, and fatigue were measured at baseline and followup. RESULTS: All 3 training groups demonstrated similar improvements in strength compared with the change among control subjects (RA group 57% (p < 0.0005), young exercise group 44% (p < 0.01), elderly exercise group 36% (p < 0.05)). Subjects with RA had no change in the number of painful or swollen joints but had significant reductions in self-reported pain score (21% (p < 0.05)) and fatigue score (38% (p = 0.06)), improved 50-foot walking times (mean +/- SD 10.4 +/- 2.2 seconds versus 8.3 +/- 1.5 seconds (p < 0.005)), and improved balance and gait scores (48.9 +/- 3.8 versus 50.4+/- 2.0 (p = 0.07)). CONCLUSION: High-intensity strength training is feasible and safe in selected patients with well-controlled RA and leads to significant improvements in strength, pain, and fatigue without exacerbating disease activity or joint pain.
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