Effects of Exercise on Body Composition and Physical Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Scoping Review

Figures & data

Figure 1 PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flowchart of the selection procedure.

Table 1 Description of Study Participants’ Characteristics

Author	Design	Population (N)	Age Mean ± SD (EI)	Age Mean ± SD (CG)	Gender (M/F)	Disease Duration Mean ± SD (EI)	Disease Duration Mean ± SD (CG)	Qualities of the Studies
Azeez et al, (2020)^Citation24	Randomized Control Trial	52	NA	NA	8/44	NA	NA	Good
Cima et al, (2013)^Citation25	Randomized Control Trial	20	53±10	60.4±7.4	0/20	N/A	N/A	Good
Durcan et al, (2014)^Citation26	Randomized Control Trial	78	61±8.0	59±12	28/50	16±10.9	11±11.2	Good
Joo et al, (2022)^Citation27	Prospective Intervention Study	42	51.2±6.9	47.6±9.3	0/42	6.7 ± 7.5	4.4±7.4	Good
Lange et al, (2019)^Citation8	Randomized Control Trial	74	69.14±2.61	70.11±2.30	18/56	15.4±10.7	17.4±10.9	Good
Lourenzi et al, (2017)^Citation28	Randomized Control Trial	60	52.63±7.10	50.88±8.57	5/55	11.3±8.7	9.1±5.8	Good
Morsley et al, (2018)^Citation29	Cross-Sectional	83	NA	NA	33/50	NA	NA	Fair
Rahnama et al, (2012)^Citation30	Experimental Design	48	59.4±8.1 (EI-AE) 57.0±7.4 (EI- SE)	69.6±8.3	NA	NA	NA	Fair
Sandstad et al, (2015)^Citation18	Cross-Over Study	18	32.4±8.3	34.3±8.7	0–18	NA	NA	Good
Seneca et al, (2015)^Citation31	Randomized Control Trial	51	NA	NA	16–35	NA	NA	Good
Siqueira et al, (2017)^Citation32	Randomized Control Trial	100	54±5.1 (EI-L) 55±6 (EI-W)	53.2±7	0–100	7.7±2.9 (EI-1) 9.2±3.1 (EI-2)	8.5±4	Good

Abbreviations: EI, exercise intervention; CG: control group; EI-AE, aerobic exercise; EI-SE, strengthening exercise; EI-L, land aerobic; EI-W, water aerobics.

Table 2 Methodology and Results Analysis

Author	Exercise mode	Duration	Frequency	Intensity	Results
Azeez et al, (2020)^Citation24	Individualized combined resistance and aerobic exercise	3 months	NA	NA	Improved body composition, (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). Increased physical function (HAQ), and increased muscle strength (hand-held dynamometer)
Cima et al, (2013)^Citation25	Resistance training	2 months	2 days per week	N/A	Improved functional ability (HAQ)
Durcan et al, (2014)^Citation26	Resistance Exercise, Cardiovascular Training, and Stretching	12 weeks	2–3 days per week	Light-to-Moderate	Improved functional ability (HAQ)
Joo et al, (2022)^Citation27	Resistance Training	12 weeks	3 days per week	N/A	Improved body composition (BIA) and muscle strength (hand-held dynamometer)
Lange et al, (2019)^Citation8	Resistance and aerobic Training	20 weeks	3 days per week	Moderate-to-high intensity	Improved functional ability (HAQ DI) score
Lourenzi et al, (2017)^Citation28	Progressive resistance training	12 weeks	2 days per week	Moderate intensity	Improved physical function (HAQ)
Morsley et al, (2018)^Citation29	Progressive resistance training	6 weeks	1 day per week	N/A	Improved body composition (Skinfold caliper) and physical function (HAQ)
Rahnama et al, (2012)^Citation30	Aerobic and Strengthening exercises	8 weeks	3 days per week	NA	Improved functional ability (Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis index) (WOMAC)
Sandstad et al, (2015)^Citation18	High-Intensity Interval Training	10 weeks	2 days per week	High Intensity	Improved body composition (BIA)
Seneca et al, (2015)^Citation31	Strength Exercise	12 weeks	2 days per week	High Intensity	Improved functional ability (Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF36v2)
Siqueira et al, (2017)^Citation32	Aerobic exercise (land and water-based)	16 weeks	3 days per week	Moderate intensity	Improved physical function (HAQ) and No significant improvement in body composition (whole-body bone densitometry (DXA)

Abbreviations: HAQ, health assessment questionnaire; HAQ DI, health assessment questionnaire-disability index; BIA, Bioelectrical impedance analysis; DXA, Whole-body densitometry; WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster osteoarthritis index.

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