Assessment of physical fitness and physical activity levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia

Physical activity and physical fitness level is decreased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia as a consequence of joint pain, restricted mobility, fatigue, reduced muscle mass, strength. In previous studies, it was emphasized that the level of physical activity and physical fitness should be determined in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the levels of physical activity and physical fitness of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia and healthy subjects. Our study was carried out on 50 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 95 osteoarthritis patients and 82 fibromyalgia patients who have been diagnosed in Başkent University Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinics and 110 healthy subjects. In order to determine the level of physical activity, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used. The pain of subjects was assessed by the McGill pain questionnaire. Measurement of body composition (BMI), muscle endurance (sit up test), cardio respiratory endurance (6-minute walk test), flexibility (sit and reach test - body lateral flexion ) and balance (KAT 3000) were evaluated to determine the health related physical fitness of the subjects. The fibromyalgia groups' subparameters of McGill pain questionnaire scores were statistically significant higher than the rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis groups (p<0.05). The walking and total physical activity scores in IPAQ of the rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia patients were statistically significant lower than the healthy subjects (p<0.05). % 36.6 of the fibromyalgia group, 28.4 % of the osteoarthritis group, %38 of the rheumatoid arthritis group and %22.7 of healthy subjects were found to be inactive. In health related physical fıtness testing of rheumatoid arthritis patients, the sit up test scores were significantly lower, Borg scale scores were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). In fibromyalgia groups, the sit up test scores were significantly lower and the control, osteoarthritis groups (p<0.05). In rheumatoid arthritis groups, the static balance levels were statistically significant lower than osteoarthritis groups. In osteoarthritis patients, the dinamic balance levels were statistically significant lower than healthy subjects (p<0.05). Conclusively, when compared to healthy people, the physical activity and physical fitness levels of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia were found to be low. The decrease of physical activity and physical fitness levels were more prominent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in patients with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. In cases of rheumatic diseases, exercise and daily physical activity programs must be included in physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatment approaches. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, physical activity, physical fitness