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The effects of resistance training in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome

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Abstract

Introduction

Resistance training (RT) is well tolerated and has shown promise for decreasing fatigue. However, the effects of RT have never been examined in primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS).

Objective

To assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of a resistance exercise program on fatigue in patients with pSS.

Methods

This is a parallel, single-blind randomized trial. Women aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with pSS according to the American-European criteria, were included. We randomized 59 participants to a resistance training group (RT) or a control group (CG). Participants in the RT group performed a 16-week resistance exercise program. The sessions consisted of three sets of resistance exercises (10 repetitions each) at 60 to 80% of 1 repetition maximum, designed to improve whole-body strength. The participants in the CG received their usual pharmacological treatment and instructions regarding disease control, pain management, sleep hygiene, and activities of daily living. To compare intergroup and intragroup variability, a one-factor repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used.

Results

RT effectively improved fatigue, pain, functional capacity, emotional aspects, vitality, and subjective perception of disease activity by the patient. No between-group differences were found in the ESSPRI mental score, ESSDAI, SF-36-Physical Aspects, SF-36-General Health, SF-36-Social aspects, and SF-36-Mental Health after the training period.

Conclusion

An RT program was safe and effective in improving fatigue, pain, functional capacity, emotional aspects, vitality, and subjective perception of disease activity by the patient in women with pSS.

Key Points

• This is the first study to evaluate the effects of a resistance training program on fatigue in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome.

• A resistance training program was shown to be effective in improving fatigue in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome.

• A resistance training program is well-tolerated, has good compliance, and is not associated with serious adverse effects in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome.

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Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil (CAPES)–Finance Code 001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evidence-Based Health Program, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), R. Botucatu, 740 – 3o andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04023-900, Brazil

    Luciana Paula Dardin, Ana Beatriz Andreo Garcia, Paulo Alexandre Minali, Ana Carolina Pereira Nunes Pinto & Virginia Fertnandes Moça Trevisani

  2. Biological and Health Sciences Department, Universidade Federal de Amapa (UNIFAP), Macapá, AP, Brazil

    Ana Carolina Pereira Nunes Pinto

  3. Santo Amaro University, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Virginia Fertnandes Moça Trevisani

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  1. Luciana Paula Dardin
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  2. Ana Beatriz Andreo Garcia
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  4. Ana Carolina Pereira Nunes Pinto
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Correspondence to Ana Carolina Pereira Nunes Pinto.

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Dardin, L.P., Garcia, A.B.A., Minali, P.A. et al. The effects of resistance training in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome. Clin Rheumatol 41, 1145–1152 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-021-05977-0

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