© 2004 by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & European League Against Rheumatism
LEADER
Rheumatoid arthritis
Dynamic exercises in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor Asst A P Anandarajah
Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology Unit, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642, USA; Allen_Anandarajah@URMC.Rochester.Edu
Are they friend or foe?
Keywords: exercise; joint damage; rheumatoid arthritis
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease characterised by the presence of synovial inflammation and destruction of bone and cartilage. This matrix degradation leads to reduced physical function. Indeed, up to 50% of patients display a decreased range of movement at initial presentation to a rheumatologist.1 The presence of widespread synovial inflammation, coupled with impaired mobility and function, results in a low bone mass.
Two distinct forms of bone loss—localised and generalised—have been described.2 Localised bone loss in the form of bone erosions and periarticular osteopenia is an important component of the radiographic criteria for the diagnosis of RA.3 More severe disease activity is usually associated with the presence of extensive erosions. Erosions typically develop within the first 2 years of diagnosis of RA.4 The rate of progression of these erosions is, however, less clear. Whereas some studies suggest that radiographic progression continues at a constant rate throughout
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