Rheumatology Commons^™

Physical Activity For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Benchmark Study, Lauren Nicholson

MSN Capstone Projects

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition that affects the joints; without proper treatment and management, RA leads to the destruction of joint function. The standard of care for RA includes medications such as biologic therapy and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. An often-overlooked area of disease management is the implementation of exercise programs for patients with RA. Exercise is known to decrease systemic inflammation, symptoms of depression, and combat fatigue – all common symptoms reported by patients with RA.

Standard of care for patients with RA does not currently include lifestyle management factors such as diet, exercise, and cessation of …