@article {Marcora1031, author = {Samuele M Marcora and Andrew B Lemmey and Peter J Maddison}, title = {Can progressive resistance training reverse cachexia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Results of a pilot study.}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {1031--1039}, year = {2005}, publisher = {The Journal of Rheumatology}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE:. A Phase II trial was performed as a preliminary test of the efficacy and safety of progressive resistance training (PRT) as adjunct treatment for rheumatoid cachexia. METHODS: Ten mildly disabled patients with well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis (RA) trained, on average, 2.5 times per week for 12 weeks. Ten age and sex matched RA patients with similar disease characteristics were non-randomly assigned to a control group. Body composition, physical function, and disease activity were assessed pre and post intervention period. RESULTS: Between group comparisons at followup by ANCOVA using baseline scores as covariate showed significant increases in fat-free mass (+1253 g, p = 0.004), total body protein (+1063 g, p = 0.044), and arm (+280 g, p = 0.005) and leg (+839 g, p = 0.001) lean mass (a proxy measure of total body skeletal muscle mass) in response to PRT with no exacerbation of disease activity. There was also a trend for loss of fat mass in the trunk (-752 g, p = 0.084) and a significant reduction in percent body fat (-1.1\%, p = 0.047). Changes in body composition were associated with improvements in various measures of physical function. CONCLUSION: Intense PRT with adequate volume seems to be an effective and safe intervention for stimulating muscle growth in patients with RA. Pending confirmation of these results in a larger randomized controlled trial that includes patients with more active and severe disease, a similar PRT program should be included in the management of RA as adjunct treatment for cachexia.}, issn = {0315-162X}, URL = {https://www.jrheum.org/content/32/6/1031}, eprint = {https://www.jrheum.org/content/32/6/1031.full.pdf}, journal = {The Journal of Rheumatology} }