Table 4.
Prospective Studies of Rehabilitative Interventions for AIMSS
| Author [Ref.] | Study Location | Study Design | Intervention, Na | Control(s), Na | Co-Interventions | Duration | Main Outcome Measure(s) | Tolerability/ Safety | Main Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supervised Sport or Exercise | |||||||||
| Barbosa et al, 2021 | Brazil | RCT/PG | Pilates (n = 20) Circuit-based exercise (n = 20) |
No study intervention (n= 20) |
Analgesic medications allowed. | 8 weeks | BPI, DASH, Numerical rating pain scale, PSQI | - One participant reported back pain. | - Significant reduction in pain intensity with Pilates, but not with circuit-based exercise and not in the control group. Pain ratings at end of intervention were significantly lower with Pilates than both comparator groups. - Function and sleep measures were significantly improved from baseline in the Pilates group; sleep function was also significantly improved in the circuit-based exercise group. |
| Boing et al, 2023 | Brazil | RCT/PG | Pilates (n = 25) Belly dance (n = 25) |
Educational sessions (n = 24) |
None specified. | 12 months | VAS, FACT-F, PSQI, Perceived Stress Scale, Life Orientation Test, BDI | - Unspecified. | - No significant treatment effects were observed for pain, stress, optimism, or depressive symptoms. - Significant improvement in fatigue scores from baseline noted in all 3 groups. |
| Cantarero-Villanueva et al, 2013a | Spain | Non-randomized/ PG | Aquatic exercise (n = 20) |
Wait-list (n = 20) |
Paracetamol use mentioned but with unclear distribution between groups. | 8 weeks | Pressure pain thresholds, Piper Fatigue Scale | - No adverse events or development of worsening pain was observed. | - Significantly greater increase in pressure pain threshold with intervention (vs wait-list controls). |
| Crespo-Bosque et al, 2016b | USA | RCT/PG | Supervised exercisec | Usual carec | None specified. | 12 months | WOMAC, QuickDash, pressure pain threshold (wrist, knee) using an algometer | - Unspecified. | - WOMAC and QuickDash scores and pressure pain threshold measures improved with supervised exercise and worsened with usual care. |
| De Sire et al, 2021 | Italy | RCT/PG | Whole body vibration (WBV) + exercise (n = 11) |
Sham WBV + exercise (n = 11) |
Subjects washed out from prior treatment with analgesics and NSAIDs. | 4 weeks | NPRS, WOMAC, QLQ-C30 (quality of life) | − 1 patient in the WBV + exercise group reported nausea after the 1st session of physical exercise plus WVV; however, the subject was able to complete the study. | - Significant improvement on NPRS scores in WBV + exercise group, but not sham WBV + exercise group; between-group differences were non-significant. - WOMAC score increased significantly in both groups. - QLQ-C30 scores improved significantly in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. |
| DeNysschen et al, 2014 | USA | Pre/post | Exercise, individually tailored (n = 26) |
None | Unspecified | 8 weeks | AIMS-2, MOS SF-36v2 (quality of life) | - No significant adverse effects reported. | - Significant improvement on AIMS-2 pain, physical activity, dexterity, and arm function measures. - No significant improvement in self-care, mobility, and household activities; however, baseline values for these measures were low. |
| Fields et al, 2016 | UK | RCT/PG | Nordic walking (n = 16) |
Usual care (n = 20) |
Contact from the study team every 2 weeks to check for any pain, injury, or lymphedema | 12 weeks | BPI-SF, CES-D (mood), PSEQ (self-efficacy), SF-36 (quality of life) | − 2 participants in the Nordic walking group reported new-onset pain that resolved with physiotherapy. | - Pain symptoms reduced in both the Nordic walking and usual care groups. Study was not powered to investigate between-group differences. |
| Irwin et al, 2015 and Baglia et al, 2019 | USA | RCT/PG | Exercise (n = 61 enrolled) |
Usual care (n = 60 enrolled) |
Usual care participants were not discouraged from exercising on their own but were not given any exercise instruction until the end of the study. | 12 months | BPI, WOMAC, DASH, FACT, SF-36 | - Unspecified. | - Significantly greater improvement in BPI worst pain, pain severity, and pain interference scores with exercise than usual care. - Similar findings for DASH and WOMAC scores. - Greater improvement in overall, breast cancer-specific, endocrine-specific, and fatigue-specific quality of life measures in the exercise group. |
| Nyrop et al, 2017 | USA | RCT/PG | Exercise (walking) (n = 31 randomized) |
Waitlist controls (n = 31 randomized) |
Unspecified | 6 weeks | VAS, WOMAC, FACT-G, RAI, Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale, Outcome Expectations from Exercise, Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity Scale | - Unspecified. | - Significant improvements in WOMAC stiffness, difficulty/function, and total scores; and RAI perceived helplessness score, in the walking group. - Similar results reported for waitlist controls after completing their walking intervention from weeks 7 through 12. - Data were not presented for weeks 1–6 for the waitlist control group. - At 6-month follow-up, walking minutes per week decreased significantly and RAI perceived helplessness scores returned to baseline values; however, improvements in WOMAC stiffness, difficulty/function, and total scores were largely maintained. |
| Nyrop et al, 2014 | USA | Pre/post | Exercise (n = 20) |
None | Unspecified | 6 weeks | VAS (one each for pain, stiffness, and fatigue), ASE | - Unspecified. | - Decreases in joint pain, fatigue, and joint stiffness decreased from baseline by 10% (pain) to 32% (stiffness). |
| Tajaesu et al, 2017 and Tamaki et al, 2018b | Japan | RCT/PG | Exercise (n = 80) |
Treatment as usual (n = 28) |
Unspecified | 12 months | BPI, AI adherence | - Unspecified. | - Statistical trend reported for differentiating effects by treatment group on pain interference at 12 months, but scores by treatment group were not reported. - For those with >70% adherence, there was significantly greater improvement in pain interference scores with exercise than treatment as usual at 12 months. |
| Varadarajan et al, 2016b | Unspecified | RCT/PG | Supervised exercise (n = 15) |
Walking (n = 12) |
Unspecified | 8 weeks | PDI, Pain Scale, PHQ-4 (depression) | - Unspecified. | - No significant between-group differences in PDI, Pain Scale, PCI, or PHQ4 scores. |
| Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Recreation Therapy Intervention | |||||||||
| Cantarero-Villanueva et al, 2011 | Spain | RCT/PG | Multimodal PT program (n = 29) |
Treatment as usual (n = 26) |
Unspecified | 6 months | PFS, MLTPAQ, shoulder and cervical ROM assessments | - Unspecified. | - Significantly greater improvement in fatigue and ROM measures in the intervention group compared with the control group. |
| Lippi et al, 2022 | Italy | RCT/PG | Whole body vibration + exercise (n = 11) |
Sham whole body vibration + exercise (n = 11) |
Unspecified | 4 weeks | Numerical Pain Rating Scale, WOMAC, handgrip strength, 10-meter walking test, EORTC QLQ-C30 | - Investigators did not register dropouts or side-effects in either group. | - Significant improvement in pain was observed in the intervention group but not the control group. - There were significant improvements in muscle strength, physical performance, and quality of life measures in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. |
| Other Rehabilitative Intervention | |||||||||
| Conejo et al, 2018 | Spain | RCT/PG | Neuromuscular taping (NMT) (n = 20) |
Sham NMT (n = 20) |
Pain medications were prescribed to participants in both arms following usual care guidelines. | 5 weeks | VAS, QuickPiper Fatigue Scale, QLQ-C30 (quality of life), Spine Functional Index, Upper Limbs Functional Index, BADIX | - None reported. | - There were significant improvements in VAS scores with NMT at 5 weeks, but not sham NMT. |
Notes: a Refers to the number of subjects whose data were analyzed, unless otherwise specified. b Both of the reports from Tajaesu et al97 and Tamaki et al82 were published in abstract form. Findings from Tamaki et al82 are presented in the table c The information provided in the published abstract only specifies that 121 subjects were enrolled, 99 of whom had pain and pressure pain threshold data available at 6 months.
Abbreviations: AIMS-2, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale; ASE, Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale; BADIX, Backache Disability Index; COX-2, cyclo-oxygenase-2; DASH, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scale; EORTC QLQ-C30, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire; MLTPAQ, Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire; MOS SF-36v2, Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form; NPRS, numerical pain rating scale; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PDI, Pain Disability Index; PFS, Piper Fatigue Scale; PHQ-4, 4-item Public Health Questionnaire; PSEQ, Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire; RAI, Rheumatology Attitudes Index; RCT/PG, randomized controlled trial (parallel-group design); ROM, range of motion; SF-36, Medical Outcomes Short Form 36; VAS, pain visual analog scale; WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities index.