Effectiveness of locomotion training in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective clinical trial.
Takeshi Mochizuki, Koichiro Yano, Katsunori Ikari and 1 others
PMID 38075516WHAT IT FOUND
Six months of home-based locomotion training reduced disability scores from 0.24 to 0.16 on a 3-point scale and lowered pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Without a control group, natural variation cannot be ruled out, but the exercises are simple and low-intensity.
Key findings
01Physical disability (HAQ-DI) improved from a mean of 0.24 at baseline to 0.16 at 6 months on a scale where lower is better.
02Pain VAS scores decreased from 24.9 at baseline to 17.6 at 6 months.
03Balance, measured by single-leg standing time, improved from 27.2 seconds to 36.4 seconds on the right leg and 25.1 to 35.2 seconds on the left leg.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
There was no control group, so improvements cannot be definitively attributed to the training rather than natural disease fluctuation or regression to the mean. Participants had relatively low disease activity and mild disability at baseline, so results may not apply to patients with severe RA or high disease activity. The study only followed patients for 6 months, so long-term effects and sustainability are unknown. The subgroup with physical dysfunction was small (n=34), limiting the certainty of findings for this specific population. Adherence was moderate (approx. 70%), which may influence the generalizability of the results to patients who struggle with home programs.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest and stated no funding sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this program improves walking speed. While disability and balance improved, the maximum 10-meter walking speed actually decreased slightly from 0.64 m/s to 0.61 m/s, and comfortable speed showed no significant change.