A NEW systematic review suggests that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is safe for patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and may offer important health benefits without worsening disease activity.
The review, led by Christopher Sutherland and colleagues, analyzed nine randomized controlled trials including 586 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or axial spondyloarthritis. Patients who engaged in HIIT were compared with control groups across outcomes such as disease activity, immune function, symptoms, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
The findings indicate that disease activity remained stable across nearly all studies, with one trial reporting a slight decrease. Pain and fatigue outcomes varied, though some improvements were observed. Notably, all studies assessing CRF reported significant gains among patients performing HIIT, with one also showing enhanced HRQoL. Body composition results were mixed, and imaging assessments showed no meaningful differences.
“HIIT appears to be a safe and effective training method for patients with inflammatory arthritis, with clear benefits for cardiorespiratory fitness and potential improvements in quality of life,” the authors concluded. However, they emphasized the need for further high-quality research to confirm these results and better understand long-term effects.
Reference
Sutherland C et al. Effects of high-intensity interval training on patients with inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review. BMC Rheumatol. 2025;DOI: 10.1186/s41927-025-00540-9.
