Effects of exercise on aerobic capacity and fatigue in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the effect of a moderate to high intensive exercise program on two primary outcomes (aerobic capacity, fatigue), and three secondary outcomes [anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)] in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome (primary SS). Methods. Twenty-one women with primary SS were ranked according to degree of fatigue and allocated to an exercise group (TG; n=11) or a control group (CG; n=10). The exercise method was Nordic walking for 45 min three times a week for 12 weeks. Outcome measures assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks were aerobic capacity, fatigue, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), anxiety, depression and HRQoL. Results. Nine women in the TG and 10 women in the CG completed the study. Analysis showed significant differences between the groups regarding aerobic capacity (P=0.03), fatigue (P=0.03), RPE (P=0.03), and depression (P=0.02) with the better values for the TG. There were no differences in anxiety or HRQoL. Conclusion. Our findings support the use of appropriate aerobic exercise in the treatment of primary SS. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved.