Education 'helps arthritis patients'
Incorporating education in exercise programmes helps arthritis patients cope with their disease better, according to new research.
Educational components include one-on-one discussions with care providers or group interventions, providing patients self-monitoring advice, providing feedback to patients regarding their performance, goal-setting, and problem-solving.
Researchers at the University of Missouri analysed data from 4,111 participants in 28 previous studies. Participants included people with osteoarthritis, knee arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The findings, published in the journal Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, revealed that education helped patients maintain increased physical activity levels. In addition, patients reported other benefits, including increased muscle strength and better mental health.
Researchers also found that arthritis patients who learned exercise habits through physical activity interventions had reduction in pain and increases in physical functioning, compared to patients who did not participate in interventions.
"Educational components can be incorporated into exercise programmes in any setting that are currently suggested by physicians, nurses and other care providers," lead author Dr Vicki Conn said.
A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign said that exercise was vital in the management of all types of arthritis to reduce pain and improve mobility.
"If patients know the reasons why they need to exercise they are far more likely to adhere to an exercise and activity regime," she added. 
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