Research Abstract: Exercise Can Reverse Quadriceps Dysfunction

Bearne, L. M., Scott, D. L., & Hurley, M. V. (2002). Exercise can reverse quadriceps sensorimotor dysfunction that is associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) without exacerbating disease. Rheumatology, 41, 157-166.

The purpose of this study was to compare quadriceps sensorimotor function (weakness, voluntary activation, proprioceptive acuity) of healthy participants and participants with RA involving the lower limbs, examine the relationship between muscle dysfunction and lower limb function performance and disability, investigate the efficacy of a short, practical exercise program, and evaluate its effect on disease activity and plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

This study demonstrates that a simple, brief, and inexpensive exercise regimen can be safe and effective for people with RA with lower-limb involvement. While it is encouraging that the 6-month follow-up assessment showed continued improvement, further study is needed to determine the cause, especially when no participants reported any new or continued activity during this time frame other than with activities of daily living.

Read the entire abstract at http://www.ncpad.org/311/1917/Exercise~can~reverse~quadriceps~sensorimotor~dysfunction~
that~is~associated~with~rheumatoid~arthritis~without~
exacerbating~disease~.

RERC RecTech State of the Science Conference Call for Papers/Abstracts/Submissions

The inaugural Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center RecTech State of the Science Conference will be held May 30-31, 2006, in Denver, CO. The goal of this conference is to bring together the most current research, developments, equipment, and applications in exercise technology for people with disabilities. Cross-disciplinary submissions in other fields are welcome.

Submit abstracts of 400 words or less to sbonne2@uic.edu in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Rich Text format (.rtf).