title: Development and delivery of an exercise intervention for rheumatoid arthritis: strengthening and stretching for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand (SARAH) trial.
abstract: This paper describes the development and implementation of a hand exercise intervention for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as part of a large multi-centred randomised controlled trial in a U.K. National Health Service (NHS) setting. Participants are eligible if diagnosed with RA according to American College of Rheumatology criteria, have a history of disease activity, functional deficit or impairment in the hand and/or wrist, and have been on a stable medication regime for at least 3 months. The intervention development was informed by the current evidence base, published guidelines, clinician and expert opinion, and a pilot study. The exercise programme targets known, potentially modifiable physical impairments of the hand with 5 exercise sessions and a home exercise component over a 12 week period. The intervention will be provided to 240 participants along with usual care. A further 240 will receive usual care only as part of the control arm. Specific details of the treatments delivered are described. [ISRCTN no: 89936343].
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School Clinical Trials Unit, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Rd, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. P.Heine@warwick.ac.uk
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bridle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lamb
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006225:Hand; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012107:Research Design