Article

OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into the relationship between activity pacing and
physical inactivity. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Outpatient clinic
of a rheumatology department. SUBJECTS: Men and women diagnosed with rheumatoid
arthritis. MAIN MEASURES: Physical activity was assessed using self-reported
measures and an accelerometer-based activity monitor. An occupational therapist
and specialized nurse analysed the self-reported physical activity data and
classified on the basis of consensus the pacing of activities of all patients as
'adequate' or 'not adequate'. RESULTS: Thirty rheumatoid arthritis patients
participated in this study of whom nine were categorized as adequate activity
pacers. None of these nine undertook sufficient exercise whereas 6 of the 20
people who did not pace activity appropriately did. Physical activity levels
assessed by self-reported measures were significantly higher than when assessed
by an accelerometer-based activity monitor. CONCLUSIONS: Activity pacing was
associated with lower levels of physical activity. Since patients with rheumatoid
arthritis are already at risk for inactivity, further inactivation by activity
pacing might potentially be harmful.

Langue : ANGLAIS