This single-centre, randomized prospective interventional study is being conducted under the leadership of Dr. Valentin S. Schäfer, Head of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology and Claus-Juergen Bauer, Deputy Head of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at the University Hospital Bonn, and assesses the effect of blood flow restriction training in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with conventional resistance training.
In this prospective pilot study, patients with RA and PsA will be randomized to one of three groups: Kaatsu BFR training, conventional resistance training, or a non-training control group. The training intervention will be performed twice weekly over a 12-week period. Disease activity will be assessed before and after the (non-)training period using the DAS28, PsAID12, Tender Joint Count, Swollen Joint Count, FFB-H-P and IPAQ questionnaires, clinical examination, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. In addition, muscle diemeters will be assessed by ultrasound, while body measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and cytokine and myokine levels will also be determined at both time points.
