Progressive Resistance Exercise in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Progressive Resistance Exercise in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized controlled trial with rheumatoid arthritis patients will be realized. Patients will be randomized into two groups. Experimental group will do a 12 weeks training of progressive resistance exercise for global muscles and remain with the clinical treatment and the control only remain with the clinical treatment. Patients will be evaluated at baseline, after 6, 12 and 24 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Rheumatoid arthritis according to American College of Rheumatology 2010
• Both genders
• Age between 18 and 65 years
• Functional class I, II and III
• Stable medication within the three months preceding the study
• Haven't done any kind of regular exercise (two or more times per Week) for at least three months before study start
• Have agreed to participate in the study and signed an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participating in another type of study
• Have difficulty understanding the evaluation tools with fibromyalgia
• Joint deformities that make impossible do the exercises
• Other musculoskeletal diseases
• Other diseases that contraindicate exercises.