Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the outcome of exercise programs for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients and its tendency with network analysis. Method: 30 articles from Medline search of foreign nursing journals(1966-2002) and 5 from three Korean nursing journals(1970-2002) were surveyed. The contents analyses were focused on outcome measures and network analysis of exercise programs. Results: Exercise programs result in improving muscle strength(91.7%), aerobic capacity(72.9%), and 50 feet walk time(57.3%). Among several exercises, water exercise, and Tai-chi are in the middle of weight-bearing exercises. In the experimental design, non-randomized control trials were 40%, and the functional status of subjects were not classified in 40% of the articles surveyed. Conclusion: Considering the results, muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and 50 feet walk time were tested as valid outcome measures. Tai-chi exercise could be recommended as proper exercise for Rheumatoid arthritis patients because of its low intensity of weight-bearing exercise. In terms of research methods, the randomized trials and functional classifications of rheumatoid arthritis should be done more strictly.

Keywords

• Rheumatoid Arthritis;
• Exercise Program;
• Network Analysis