NCT07262112

Efficacy of Resistance Exercise and an Anti-Inflammatory Diet on Pain, Disease Activity, Functional Status, and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Berra Yamuç Tanrıöğen · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study aims to examine how resistance exercises and an anti-inflammatory diet affect pain, daily functioning, disease activity, and quality of life in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Participants will follow a structured exercise program and a diet plan designed to reduce inflammation. The study will measure changes in pain levels, mobility, overall health, and disease symptoms over time. The goal is to determine whether combining exercise and an anti-inflammatory diet can help improve the daily lives and well-being of individuals living with rheumatoid arthritis.

Detailed description

This study examines the combined effects of resistance exercise and an anti-inflammatory diet on clinical outcomes in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a chronic inflammatory condition that commonly leads to persistent pain, reduced physical function, and diminished quality of life. Non-pharmacological strategies, including structured exercise and dietary modification, have shown promise as complementary approaches to routine RA management. Participants in this study will engage in a supervised resistance exercise program along with an anti-inflammatory diet designed to reduce systemic inflammation and support overall musculoskeletal health. The exercise component focuses on improving muscle strength, joint stability, and functional performance, while the dietary intervention emphasizes foods known to lower inflammatory activity. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0), week 6, and month 3 to evaluate the progression of clinical improvements. Measures will include quality of life, disease activity, functional status, and pain levels. Validated tools and standardized assessment instruments will be used to ensure precise and reliable data collection across all time points. The aim of this study is to determine whether combining resistance exercise with an anti-inflammatory diet results in meaningful, measurable improvements over time in individuals living with rheumatoid arthritis. The findings may contribute to evidence supporting the integration of multimodal lifestyle interventions into routine RA care.

Conditions

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Exercise	Supervised strengthening exercises using resistance bands in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation unit, in addition to participants' standard medical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Each session lasts 1 hour and is conducted 3 days per week for a total of 6 weeks under physician supervision. The intervention focuses on improving muscular strength and physical function. Every 3 sessions, the resistance will be increased for participants who do not experience pain after the exercise session.
BEHAVIORAL	Diet	Dietitian-supervised anti-inflammatory diet followed for 3 months, in addition to participants' standard medical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Participants receive individualized dietary counseling and meal plans tailored to reduce inflammation, and adherence to the diet is monitored throughout the study period
OTHER	Medical management/current medications per standard of care by personal physician.	Participants continue standard medical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis as prescribed by their physician. No study-specific intervention is added

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-30
• Primary completion: 2026-04-01
• Completion: 2026-05-01
• First posted: 2025-12-03
• Last updated: 2025-12-03