Rheumatism: pedometer against fatigue
Larissa Melville completed her traineeship in the editorial team of . After studying biology at Ludwig Maximilians University and the Technical University of Munich, she first got to know digital media online at Focus and then decided to learn medical journalism from scratch.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.Not only do swollen and inflamed joints make life difficult for rheumatism patients, but also the associated fatigue and exhaustion. Movement can work wonders here, but often those affected cannot pull themselves up to do it. Unless they have a pedometer.
Previous studies have shown that obesity, depression and insomnia are signs of the tiredness that rheumatism sufferers often experience. "And all of these signs are closely related to physical inactivity," reports study director Patricia Katz from the University of California. The motivation to exercise more is therefore the key point to drive away the tiredness of those affected, she emphasizes.
Less than 4000 steps a day
But how can you encourage rheumatism patients to exercise more? The idea of Katz and her colleagues: a simple step counter. In a study with a total of 96 fatigue-afflicted rheumatism patients, they tested whether this really works. The predominantly female participants were 54 years old on average and only walked 3710 steps per day.
For the study, the researchers divided the test subjects into three groups. The first group attended a training course in which the study team educated them about the importance of physical activity. The participants in the second and third groups each received a step counter and a notebook in which they recorded their daily step numbers. In addition, the researchers asked their step numbers every two weeks. Group three also had to increase their step count by ten percent every two weeks.
Activity increase of over 100 percent
After 21 weeks there was almost no change in the level of activity in group one. With the pedometer wearers, on the other hand, yes: the test subjects in group two increased their number of steps by 87 percent, those in group three by as much as 159 percent. "A pedometer in combination with noting the steps taken seems to be decisive," says Katz.
Those who did not exercise benefited most
All participants reported less fatigue the more they moved. However, those who had got up the least from their couch at the beginning of the study benefited most. Katz has a simple explanation for this: "The health gain from increased exercise is very likely simply greater for those who have barely moved before than for those who previously did a moderate amount of activity." In addition, it is for someone who normally only has 2,000 Steps a day, it is easier to increase the workload by 100 percent within five months - i.e. to 4,000 steps - than for someone who already counts 5,000 steps a day and is now supposed to take 10,000 steps, adds the expert.
Movement - an all-rounder
The study underscores the importance of physical activity for people with rheumatoid arthritis, says Katz. "More exercise not only helps reduce fatigue, but can also improve mood, help maintain a healthy weight, and also improve cardiovascular risk factors and general functioning."
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory joint disease. It can occur in all age groups. Around 800,000 Germans are affected - two thirds of them are women. The reason is a malfunction of the own immune system. Inflammation, stiffness, swelling and severe pain in the joints are the result. If this is not treated in time, cartilage, bones and connective tissue in the area of the joints can be destroyed.
Source: Press release from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) dated November 7, 2015
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