Predicting physical activity and sarcopenia-related health outcomes in women with rheumatoid arthritis: A test of the self-determination theory.
Chun-Ja Kim, Hye-Won Yun, Hee Sun Kang and 2 others
PMID 37312650WHAT IT FOUND
In women with rheumatoid arthritis, motivation was linked to physical activity, and physical activity was linked to thigh circumference.
Higher disease activity and older age were linked to lower handgrip strength and higher sarcopenia risk.
Key findings
01Motivation was directly associated with physical activity, and physical activity was associated with perceived health status and thigh circumference.
02Higher disease activity and older age were associated with lower handgrip strength and higher sarcopenia risk.
03Perceived autonomy support from health care providers and higher self-efficacy were associated with greater motivation for physical activity, while higher depression was associated with lower basic psychological need satisfaction.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that any factor caused physical activity or health outcomes. Participants were recruited from one hospital in South Korea using convenience sampling, so the findings may not apply elsewhere. Most participants had no disability, so the results say little about people with more severe functional limitation. Nutrition was not measured, although it can influence sarcopenia. Disease activity was assessed with DAS28, which does not fully assess lower limb strength. The model included only a limited set of factors and did not test an intervention.
Declared interests
Partly funded by a Korean government research grant. The authors state the funder had no role in conduct or publication, and they declared no conflicts.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that physical activity improves handgrip strength or prevents sarcopenia. These are cross-sectional associations, and physical activity was associated only with thigh circumference, not handgrip strength.