Heated Pool Exercise Groups for Patients With Rheumatic Diseases

Better Everyday-life With Heated Pool Exercise Groups for Patients With Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of heated pool group exercises for patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases with regard to symptoms (pain, fatigue, stiffness and ability to carry out daily activities).

The patients receive text messages on mobile phones twice a week for circa 40 weeks. The text messages ask for pain, fatigue, stiffness and ability to carry out everyday activities. The patients should respond with a number from 0 to 10, where 0 is no symptoms/no hindering of activity and 10 is worst symptoms/worst hindering of activity.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Referral from a medical doctor to group exercises in heated pool
• Inflammatory rheumatic joint disease
• > 18 years
• Stable disease
• Mobile phone owner
• Understand and use text messages on mobile phones

Exclusion Criteria:

• Independent living
• Joint surgery previous to the study start