Effectiveness and safety of high-intensity exercise in rheumatic diseases—friend or foe? A systematic review
Authors' conclusion
While patients can certainly benefit from low- to moderate-intensity exercise, the current evidence does not suggest harm from high-intensity exercise.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions29 studies (15 RCTs)
- Comparison
- High-intensity land-based exercise vs usual care, no intervention, or low-intensity exercise
- Outcome
- Effectiveness and safety of high-intensity exercise: disease activity, pain intensity, function
Methodological detailsJoanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist quality assessment, Study quality generally adequate (JBI checklist); main limitations in patient and clinician blinding
- JBI checklist quality assessment
- Study quality generally adequate (JBI checklist); main limitations in patient and clinician blinding
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Disease activity, pain, function
- Moderate certainty evidence that high-intensity exercise does not increase disease activity
- May reduce pain and may improve function vs control interventions
Safety
- High-intensity exercise (aerobic, resistance-based or high-intensity interval training (HIIT)) is safe for patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases
Original publication
Effectiveness and safety of high-intensity exercise in rheumatic diseases—friend or foe? A systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 21 January 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →