Effect of an Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program on Sleep Quality/Sleep Disturbance in Seniors With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study

Abstract

A convenience sample of senior adults with rheumatoid arthritis enrolled and not enrolled in the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) were compared to determine the eight-week program’s acceptability as an intervention for sleep quality/sleep disturbance in people with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as to determine if this outcome measure was appropriate as justification for possible larger studies. Results of an analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a statistically significant difference in sleep quality/sleep disturbance scores between the groups. This study provided preliminary, cautious evidence of a relationship between participation in the AFEP and its effect on sleep quality as an outcome measure for further study.

KEYWORDS:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• exercise
• sleep disturbance
• Arthritis Foundation