Encouraging people with arthritis to be more physically active

An associate professor of physical therapy at the University of Iceland is among the authors of new and updated recommendations by the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, encouraging people suffering from arthritis to be more physically active. The recommendations were published in one of the leading journals in the field of rheumatology.

Arthritis is a group of joint diseases where the immune system attacks cells in the body, causing inflammation and damage to one or more joints. This includes both autoimmune diseases and osteoarthritis, and is one of the most common causes of physical disability in Europe. Furthermore, research shows that inflammation caused by the disease, along with a sedentary lifestyle, may increase the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic problems, and some types of cancer, resulting in increased strain on healthcare systems. To prevent disease progression and to manage complications (e.g. chronic pain, fatigue, and disease-related outcomes), and comorbidities (e.g. cardiovascular and metabolic diseases), a multidisciplinary approach is required, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological care. Physical activity remains one of the most powerful non-pharmacological strategies for improving health, function, and quality of life in people suffering from arthritis.

To provide standardised recommendations for physical activity for those living with arthritis, an international taskforce with 26 members from 17 countries, including Dr Denislav Orlinov, an associate professor from the University of Iceland, recently published the updated European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations, replacing the previous EULAR recommendations from 2018.

The updated recommendations, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, one of the leading journals in the rheumatology field, provide practical guidance for clinicians, researchers, and patients across Europe and beyond. This important work reinforces the need for physical activity to be an integral part of standard care for people living with arthritis, while also highlighting the need to reduce sedentary behaviour and embrace digital tools to support long-term engagement.

“Many people living with arthritis still hesitate to participate in physical activity as they think it could worsen their symptoms, but research clearly shows that physical activity is safe,” said Dr. Orlinov. “Even small amounts of movement throughout the day can improve your health and quality of life.”

Dr Orlinov adds that the next priority is to implement these international guidelines into national health systems, „and we will start working on this in Iceland very soon”.