Abstract

Exercise has become an important part of the treatment for patients with rheumatic diseases. For many patients, guidelines for exercise and physical activity are similar to those for healthy. Are these guidelines applicable to all diagnosis?

During this session, current evidence on recommended levels of exercise in patients with fibromyalgia and systemic inflammatory diseases with internal organ involvement will be discussed.

Take home messages:

• – Given the heterogeneous nature of the rheumatic diseases, exercise dosage is probably more dependent on individual disease activity, impairments, activity limitations and aspects of quality of life, than the actual diagnosis.

• – Patients with severe fibromyalgia symptoms should be exercising with lower duration, frequency and intensity.

• – The scientific evidence on safety and effects of moderate-to-intensive exercise is very limited for patients with moderate-to-severe vital-organ involvement. For safety, these patients are recommended supervised exercise on lower intensity with close follow-up.