Effect of Physical Activity on Pain and Functional Abilities in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis at an Autoimmune Clinic in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic disease that affects the joints, connective tissues, tendons, and fibrous tissues. Despite early interventions, there is significant activity limitation due to moderate and high pain intensities in majority of affected individuals.The study set out to determine the effect of physical activity on pain and functional ability among rheumatoid arthritis patients.Methods:A pre-test, post-test quasi experimental study conducted among 60 rheumatoid arthritis patients (divided into intervention and control groups) were recruited from the Autoimmune clinic of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for this quasi-experimental study. The international physical activity questionnaire, multidimensional health assessment questionnaire and numerical pain rating scale were used to obtain data. Pedometers and a stationary cycle were used for physical activity (intervention). Paired t-test was used to compare outcomes between the level of physical activity in relation to pain and functional ability and outcomes between pre and post functional abilities at a 0.05 level of significance.Results: Majority 24 (80.0%) of participants from the intervention group reported low, while 6 (20.0%) reported moderate physical activity levels. Thirteen (43.4%) and 10 (33.3%) participants from the intervention and control groups reported moderate pain on NPRS before intervention, which reduced to 7 (23.3%) in the intervention group, as compared to 9 (30%) in the control group. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) for functional ability among the intervention group before and after the intervention programmes but no significant differences (p>0.05) for most domains of functional ability except health concern (p = 0.034) among the control group.Conclusion: Patients with RA have a relatively low physical activity level but benefit significantly from a moderate intensity aerobic exercises such as cycling and walking by improving pain levels, functional ability and general health.Clinicians should promote and encourage patients with RA to engage in physical and recreational activities.