• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.294-308
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• 2000

This study was conducted to test the effect of brisk walking & muscle strengthening exercise program on bone mineral density(BMD) of the lumbar & femur in rheumatoid arthritis women. Research design was a quasi-experimental study of non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design(16 weeks). 14 for the experimental group and 14 for the control group were selected from the outpatients on rheumatoid arthritis clinic of Dong-A University Hospital. The experimental group underwent 16 weeks of brisk walking and muscle strengthening exercise. Bone mineral density was measured before and after 16 weeks of exercise by DXA at lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle and trochanter. The results were summarized as follows : 1. BMD of the lumbar spine in experimental group who carried out the brisk walking and muscle strengthening exercise was not significantly increased after 16weeks and there was no significant difference between experimental and control group(U=70.00 p>.05). 2. BMD of the femoral neck in the experimental group who carried out the brisk walking and muscle strengthening exercises was significantly increased after 16 weeks(Z=-2.901 p<.01). But, there was no significant difference between experimental and control group(U=83.00 p>.05). 3. BMD of the femoral Ward's triangle in the experimental group who carried out the brisk walking and muscle strengthening exercises was significantly increased after 16 weeks (Z=-2.355 p<.05). But, there was no significant difference between experimental and control group(U=86.00 p>.05). 4. BMD of the femoral trochanter in experimental group who carried out the brisk walking and muscle strengthening exercise was not significantly increased after 16weeks and there was no significant difference between experimental and control group(U=75.00 p>.05). These results suggest that brisk walking and muscle strengthening exercise program has an effect on promoting bone mineral density of femoral neck and Ward's triangle in rheumatoid arthritis women.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.84-93
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• 2001

The effects of brisk walking & muscle strengthening exercise on pain, fatigue, physical function & disease activity were examined in 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Research design was a quasi-experimental study of non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. 14 for the experimental group and 14 for the control group were selected from the out patients on rheumatoid arthritis clinic of Dong-A University Hospital. The experimental group underwent 16 weeks of brisk walking and muscle strengthening exercise using Thera-Band. Pain, fatigue, physical function & disease activity was measured before and after 16 weeks of exercise. At baseline test, Fatigue & physical function score between groups were significantly different. So differences with in experimental group(baseline versus follow up) were compared with differences within the control group by Mann-Whitney test. There were significant differences between groups in the difference score on pain (U=6.50 p<.001) and fatigue (U=26.5 p<.01). For the experimental group, the score on the pain & fatigue was significantly decreased but no changed for the control group. Also there was a significant differences between groups in the difference score of the physical function (U=22.5 p<.001). For the experimental group, the score of the physical function has been significantly in creased. However, for the control group, it has been no changed. But there were no significant differences between groups in the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and the CRP (C-reactive protein)level. In summary, brisk walking & muscle strengthening exercise led to significant improvements in pain, fatigue, and physical function without exacerbating disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.