Physical training in rheumatoid arthritis: A controlled long-term study. II. Functional capacity and general attitudes.

Twenty-three patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been given physical training for 4-8 years. They are compared with a control group of patients with the same disease. In order to evaluate disease outcome, patients were given a self-administered questionnaire to report ADL capacity and some attitudes and feelings concerning their situation. Results are in agreement with earlier reports and show a significantly higher ADL capacity in the trained group compared with the control group. There is a positive correlation between ADL capacity and reported amount of physical training and a negative correlation between ADL capacity and X-ray findings and findings at clinical examination. The feeling of weakness is more pronounced in the control group and patients in this group get more discomfort from joints after physical strain than patients in the trained group. A majority of patients in the two groups wish to participate in organized group-training.