Rheumatoid Arthritis in Sports, Sports Medicine

Kenneth P. Barnes, MD, MSc, CAQSM, FACSM and Shane Hudnall, MD, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019

BASICS

Chronic systemic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the small joints of the body causing a symmetric polyarthritis

DESCRIPTION

Polyarthritis most commonly affecting the join...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Clinical diagnosis: usually symmetric synovitis (warmth, swelling, tenderness) of small joints (MCPs, PIPs, MTPs, wrists) with morning stiffness >1 hr that improves with activity
Pr...

TREATMENT

Nonpharmacologic treatment:
- Patient education, relative rest, routine exercise, physical and occupational therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, dietary therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy an...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

Exercise and increase in activity are associated with decreased level of pain, increased function, and better outcomes in patients with RA (best data shown for whole-body...

REFERENCES

Baillet A, Zeboulon N, Gossec L, et al. Efficacy of cardiorespiratory aerobic exercise in rheumatoid arthritis: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken)....

ADDITIONAL READING

Aviña-Zubieta JA, Choi HK, Sadatsafavi M, et al. Risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Arthritis Rheum. ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

RA can go into remission; must have 5+ to qualify for >2 mo: <15 min morning stiffness, no fatigue, no joint pain, no joint tenderness or pain with activity, no soft tissue swell...

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