New Insights in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Review

Analysis of physical activity in psoriatic arthritis: relationship with clinical and analytical parameters and comorbidity-description of the sedentary patient

Objective

This study aimed to relate physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle to clinical, biological, functional, and comorbid parameters in a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 232 PsA patients. Physical activity and sedentary lifestyle were obtained using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) questionnaire. The demographic, clinical, and biological variables measured were age, time since PsA diagnosis, smoking, type of treatment used, clinical form, presence of enthesitis, dactylitis (present or past), fatigue, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Activity and functionality were measured using the Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) in peripheral forms, while the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS-PCR) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) were measured in axial forms. Disease impact was assessed using the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID) questionnaire. Alongside comorbidities, obesity, anxiety, depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], and sleep quality [Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)] were assessed.

Results

The mean age was 54.6 (SD: 11.4) years, with 54.3% being male. A total of 25.6% of patients were sedentary. Physical activity and sedentary lifestyle were inversely correlated with fatigue, activity, functionality, and disease impact. Within comorbidities, they correlated with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. In addition, physical activity was inversely correlated with obesity. In linear regression analysis, physical activity was found to be related to body mass index (BMI) with a ß coefficient of -0.1 (p < 0.04; 95%CI: -194.1--4.5), and an R2 value of 0.11. In logistic regression analysis, a sedentary lifestyle was found to be related to pain, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.5 (p < 0.001; 95%CI:1.1-1.8) and an R2 Nagelkerke value of 0.36.

Conclusion

A quarter of the patients were sedentary. Lack of physical activity correlated with worse parameters of clinical activity, functionality, disease impact, and the presence of comorbidities.

Role of physical therapy in adult chronic non-bacterial osteitis: patients' and therapists' perspectives

OBJECTIVES

Chronic nonbacterial osteitis (CNO) is a rare bone disease causing pain and functional impairment. We aimed to explore the application of physical therapy (PT) for adult CNO from the patients' and primary care therapists' perspective.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study among the Dutch adult CNO cohort (1992-present). A survey on PT-use for axial spondylarthritis was adapted for CNO. Patients using PT in the past 2 years (recent PT-users) were asked about modalities, perceived effects, satisfaction, and preferences for provision. Their current physical therapists were invited to complete a self-developed survey covering therapy details and educational preferences.

RESULTS

80/199 invited patients and 14/16 invited therapists completed the survey respectively. 41 (51%) patients used PT for CNO in the preceding 2 years, 14 (18%) used PT >2 years back, and 25 (31%) never used PT. Recent PT-users (n=41) reported diverse treatment modalities, involving massage (61%), joint mobilizations (44%), breathing exercises (49%), muscle strengthening (32%) and counselling through of home-exercises (46%) and pain education (32%). 64% of all patients desired greater emphasis from physicians regarding the role of PT. Most therapists would appreciate referral letters with CNO-specific information (93%), and consultations with specialized therapists (86%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, two-third of adult CNO patients had -ever or recently- used PT, which involved variable therapeutic modalities. Most patients were receptive to a larger role of PT in CNO-management and most therapists preferred CNO-specific information to optimize their care. These findings provide a foundation for the development and systematic evaluation of CNO-specific PT.

Rehabilitation of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and comorbidities: unmet needs

Comorbidities may contribute to inadequate response to therapy and accelerate disability in various rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Cardiovascular, oncological, and infectious comorbidities are common in rheumatic patients. The rehabilitation of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) with comorbidities requires a multidisciplinary approach to improving patients' functional mobility, slowing down the disease progression and minimizing the risks of complications. The evidence suggests that cardiac rehabilitation can be implemented in daily practice in patients with IRDs to reduce mortality for those with established risk factors. Physical exercises reduce the severity, improve the clinical course, and reduce hospitalization rates in patients with rheumatic diseases. A rehabilitation program with focused physical therapy can lead to functional improvements and reduction of disease activity in patients with lowered quality of life (QoL). Health professionals should provide evidence-based recommendations for patients with rheumatic diseases and comorbidities to initiate the self-management of their diseases and prevent complications.

Regular Exercise Improved Fatigue and Musculoskeletal Pain in Young Adult Psoriatic Patients without Psoriatic Arthritis

Fatigue and musculoskeletal pain are also frequent in patients with psoriasis (PsO) without arthritis (PsA). The current study aimed to assess the impact of an intervention program based on aerobic training to reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal pain in patients with PsO without PsA. A total of 118 male patients with PsO volunteered in the current interventional study and were randomly allocated to the experimental (n = 59) or control group (n = 59). The intervention consisted of a 16-week aerobic training program on a treadmill, three sessions per week, consisting of a warm-up, 35-50 min treadmill exercise (increasing 5 min/4 weeks) at a work intensity of 50-65% of peak heart-rate (increasing 5%/4 weeks), and cooling-down. The functional assessment of chronic illness therapy fatigue scale (FACIT-Fatigue), health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI), and visual analog scale (VAS) were compared pre and post intervention. Nutritional intake, maximal aerobic power, lipid profile, serum markers of muscle damage, and body composition were also assessed. When compared to baseline, FACIT-Fatigue, HAQ-DI, and VAS scores were significantly improved without increasing markers of muscle damage. Fat mass percentage, lipid profile, and maximal oxygen consumption were also improved. In conclusion, a 16-week aerobic training program at moderate intensity was safe, well tolerated, and effective in psoriatic patients without PsA. Long-term follow-up studies are required to examine whether these promising results may improve clinical outcomes.

Difficult to Treat and Refractory to Treatment in Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex and chronic inflammatory condition in which the achievement of the best possible disease control has been proposed as the treatment target, which includes the possibility of reaching remission in all disease domains. However, due to the complexity of this multidomain disease, some patients may still have high disease activity in one or more domain and a high burden of disease, potentially leading to various treatment changes and to difficulty with the overall management. In this paper, we overview the concept of patients with difficult-to-treat PsA and the concept of patients with refractory-to-treatment PsA by providing a distinction between these two concepts and the possible implication for the management of patients with PsA.

Triple jump for the optimal management of psoriatic arthritis: diet, sleep and exercise - a review

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex, multiform and chronic inflammatory disease characterised by the association of arthritis and psoriasis combined with other related conditions and comorbidities. Treatment of PsA has rapidly evolved by the introduction of new biological drugs and small molecules which allow to achieve disease remission or low disease activity in most of the patients. However, unmet treatment needs still persist for those patients with persistent disease activity or symptoms, impaired function, reduced quality of life or comorbidities. In this context, non-pharmacological approaches, including diet modifications, an adequate sleep quality and physical activity could provide additional benefits. In recent years, diet modifications, improvement of sleep quality and physical activity became an area of interest for researchers and some studies showed how a holistic non-pharmacological approach may ameliorate the quality of life of patients with PsA.The aim of this manuscript was to review the current evidence on the intriguing link and potential effects of diet, sleep and exercise in PsA patients. In particular, we reviewed the literature focusing on the possible benefits of a holistic approach to PsA patients considering lifestyle modifications.

Diet, sleep, and exercise in inflammatory skin diseases

Inflammatory skin conditions are significantly impacted by lifestyle habits, particularly those related to diet, exercise, and sleep. Although ancient cultures emphasized the importance of lifestyle behaviors as both etiology and therapy in disease, modern medicine often overlooks nonpharmacological therapy. However, recent studies show that diet can have a significant impact on inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis. Foods high in glycemic index, advanced glycation end-products, and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with obesity and systemic inflammation, which can exacerbate inflammatory skin diseases. In addition, lifestyle behaviors such as exercise and sleep have been shown to have positive effects on inflammatory skin diseases. This review aims to highlight the importance of lifestyle behaviors in the context of inflammation and inflammatory dermatoses.

Clinical Characteristics of Potential "Difficult-to-treat" Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: A Retrospective Analysis of a Longitudinal Cohort

Introduction

The EULAR group recently published the definition of difficult-to-treat (D2T) patients for rheumatoid arthritis. However, a similar definition is lacking for patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), in which its multi-domain expression may impact the treatment response. The aim of the study was to characterize the potential D2T PsA patients, to assess the risk factors, and to determine the burden of disease.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of a longitudinal cohort of PsA patients attending a tertiary care center. At each visit, the patients underwent a complete physical examination and the clinical/laboratory data were collected. Data on comorbidities with the assessment of different comorbidity indices were also collected. Disease activity was assessed by using the DAPSA score and the MDA. The PsAID and HAQ-DI were also collected. We use the previous identified definition of D2T patients, applied to our PsA group and modified for this study.

Results

A total of 106 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. Of these, 36 (33.9%) patients fulfilled the criteria for the potential D2T patients. D2T patients showed a significantly higher BMI and higher prevalence of fibromyalgia. Furthermore, D2T patients showed a significantly higher median Functional Comorbidity Index and a significantly higher BSA, LEI, pain level, PsAID score, and HAQ-DI than non-D2T patients. Potential D2T patients also showed a significant delay in the time from diagnosis to first b/ts DMARDs treatment.

Conclusions

Our study firstly evaluated the presence of clinical characteristics of potential D2T patients and may contribute to future research on this intriguing aspect.

Psoriatic arthritis and physical activity: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The positive effects of physical activity in both rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis have been proven, but no clear data is yet published regarding psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The aims of this study were (i) to assess the level of physical activity (PA) in these patients and (ii) to review the effects of PA on articular disease, extra articular symptoms, and overall well-being.

METHODS

The research strategy was performed on Pubmed, Cochrane, PEDro databases using the following keywords: "psoriatic arthritis AND physical activity" without restriction. The PRISMA methodology was used to select and analyze articles. We searched for all studies published online and in English before January 2021.

RESULTS

A total of 319 studies were retrieved by our search but only 13 could be included. Two reports showed that 17 and 68% of patients reported practicing regularly physical activity. Exercise improved the BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index), the general symptoms (pain and fatigue), and the quality of life. Muscle strength and some of cardiovascular comorbidities were also improved. While the studies concerning the risk of enthesitis or flare induced by physical activity are conflicting, recent clinical trials did not mention any adverse event. Finally, rehabilitation programs were associated with a reduction mainly of pain and fatigue.

CONCLUSION

Studies show clear beneficial effects of exercise in PsA on disease activity, on well-being, and on comorbidities, and they seem to outweigh the risk of enthesitis induced by mechanical stress. Further investigations are necessary to confirm these results and to precise the modalities of exercise. Key Points • Psoriatic arthritis patients have a sedentary lifestyle • Physical activity has beneficial effects on disease activity, well-being and reduced some cardiovascular risk factor in psoriatic arthritis • Risk of enthesitis and flares is low with exercise in psoriatic arthritis.