Effects of community-deliverable exercise on pain and physical function in adults with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To use the meta-analytic approach to determine the effects of community-deliverable exercise on pain and physical function in adults with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases (AORD).


METHODS
Data sources consisted of 6 electronic databases, cross-referencing from retrieved studies and expert review. Study selection included 1) randomized controlled trials; 2) ≥ 1 exercise intervention group; 3) community-deliverable exercise interventions ≥ 4 weeks in duration; 4) control group; 5) adults ages ≥ 18 years with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, gout, or ankylosing spondylitis; 6) published and unpublished studies; 7) studies published in any language between January 1, 1980, and January 1, 2008; and 8) data available for pain and/or physical function. Data abstraction included dual coding by 2 of the authors. Standardized effect sizes (g) and random-effects models were used to pool pain and physical function outcomes. Data were analyzed according to per-protocol and intent-to-treat (ITT) results. The minimally clinically important difference (MCID) and number needed to treat (NNT) were also calculated.


RESULTS
Thirty-three studies representing 3,180 men and women (1,857 exercise, 1,323 control) with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia were included. Statistically significant and clinically important improvements were observed for pain (per-protocol g = -0.37 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.53, -0.21], MCID -18%; ITT g = -0.20 [95% CI -0.33, -0.07], MCID -9%, NNT 9) and physical function (per-protocol g = 0.37 [95% CI 0.21, 0.52], MCID 15%; ITT g = 0.34 [95% CI 0.25, 0.43], MCID 10%, NNT 5).


CONCLUSIONS
Community-deliverable exercise improves pain and physical function in adults with the types of AORD included in the analysis. Dose-response as well as studies in those with other types of AORD is needed.
Kelley
George A
GA
Meta-Analytic Research Group, School of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506-9190, USA. gkelley@hsc.wvu.edu
Kelley
Kristi S
KS
Hootman
Jennifer M
JM
Jones
Dina L
DL
D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome