SP0198

WHY IS CARDIOVASCULAR TRAINING IMPORTANT IN PEOPLE WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASE?

H. Dagfinrud ^1,*

¹National Resource Center for Rehabilitation in Rheumatology , Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway

Abstract: Exercises have traditionally been recommended as an important part of the management program for people with rheumatic diseases. Due to typical clinical features like stiffness and pain of joints and muscles, the focus of exercise programs has been on improved or maintained flexibility ¹. In line with this, studies show that the majority of patients with rheumatic diseases do their exercises regularly, but low intensity exercises like stretching and walking seem to be the most common activities. It is, however, important to notice that inflammatory rheumatic diseases also are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) ^{2, 3}. Cardio-respiratory fitness is known to have a protective effect against prevalence and mortality of CVD in healthy adults and cardio-vascular training is shown to have the potential of modifying CV risk factors and inflammation in healthy adults and other patient groups ^4,5,6. Despite lack of evidence, it is reasonable to suggest that similar associations exist for people with rheumatic diseases. Therefore, to optimize the beneficial health effects, it is important to include also cardio-vascular training in exercise programs delivered as part of the disease management for people with rheumatic diseases. 

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared