SynthesisArthritis care & research2018
Aerobic Exercise and Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis Participants: A Meta-Analysis Using the Minimal Important Difference Approach.
Synthesis in Arthritis care & research, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effect of exercise therapy on pain, fatigue, bone function and inflammatory biomarkers individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and knee osteoarthritis: a meta-research review of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Pooled it
- A biopsychosocial network model of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review.Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · 2019Pooled it
- Effective Recruitment Strategies for Underrepresented Adults With Arthritis in a Telephone-Delivered Walk With Ease Program.Health promotion practice · 2026Trial
- High-intensity exercise improves multidimensional fatigue and health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled study.Arthritis research & therapy · 2025Trial
- Evaluation of a multidisciplinary care model to improve quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2022Trial
- Physical Activity for Human and Planetary Health: Incorporating Green Exercise in the Management of Rheumatic Disease.Rheumatic diseases clinics of North America · 2026Review
- Hidden Adaptations: Ultrasound Evidence of Intrinsic Foot and Tendon Changes in Basketball Players with Hallux Limitus.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Article
- Recruitment and Retention Strategies for Underrepresented Populations and Adults With Arthritis in Behavioral Interventions: A Scoping Review.Arthritis care & research · 2023Article
- Efficacy and Acceptability of Intermittent Aerobic Exercise on Polysomnography-Measured Sleep in People With Rheumatoid Arthritis With Self-Reported Sleep Disturbance: A Randomized Controlled Trial.ACR open rheumatology · 2022Article
- State of Knowledge on Molecular Adaptations to Exercise in Humans: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions.Comprehensive Physiology · 2022Article
- Effectiveness and safety of aerobic exercise for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2022Article
- Management of Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis.RMD open · 2020Review
- Determining Rheumatology Patient Interest in a Group Strength Training Program - Results of an Exercise Survey.International journal of sports and exercise medicine · 2019Article
- The extra-articular impacts of rheumatoid arthritis: moving towards holistic care.BMC rheumatology · 2018Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo use the minimal important difference (MID) versus the standardized mean difference (SMD) approach in order to provide more robust and clinically relevant information regarding the association between land-based aerobic exercise and changes in self-reported fatigue among adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
methodsData from a previous meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials that represented up to 298 participants per study were utilized to calculate 9 effect sizes, using the MID approach. Data used to obtain the MID were derived from previously reported anchor-based values specific to each fatigue instrument in adults with RA. Results were pooled using a random-effects model.
resultsAerobic exercise resulted in statistically significant reductions in self-reported fatigue (MID effect size -0.34 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.58, -0.10]; P = 0.006). Results were similar when effect sizes were collapsed so that only 1 effect size represented each study (MID effect size -0.39 [95% CI -0.76, -0.03]; P = 0.04).
conclusionLand-based aerobic exercise is associated with statistically significant reductions in fatigue; however, based on previous cut points, it may be unlikely that a substantial number of participants with RA could obtain clinically relevant reductions in fatigue. Additional studies are needed, especially in those individuals with RA who have elevated levels of fatigue.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.