Evidence mapPaperPMID 41340157Full record

ArticleBMC rheumatology2025

Changing physical activity behavior among individuals with inflammatory arthritis: an umbrella review of current behaviors, behavioral determinants, and behavior change interventions.

Manuel Ester, Daniel Gillespie, Saania Zafar, Racheal Githumbi, Kiran Dhiman, Kamala Adhikari, Claire Barber

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC rheumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Manuel EsterMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada. manuel.ester@ucalgary.ca.
Daniel GillespieMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
Saania ZafarMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
Racheal GithumbiMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
Kiran DhimanMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
Kamala AdhikariDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Claire BarberMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.

Funding

Mitacs IT41125
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPhysical activity is internationally recommended as an effective component of inflammatory arthritis (IA) care. It contributes to managing IA symptoms, enhancing quality of life, and reducing cardiovascular disease risk. However, many individuals with IA are insufficiently active to realize these multi-faceted benefits. Supporting physical activity behavior change remains a major challenge within IA care. Therefore, we conducted an umbrella review to understand current evidence on: (1) physical activity levels and associated patient characteristics, (2) barriers and facilitators, and (3) effectiveness and characteristics of physical activity behavior change interventions.

methodsAn umbrella review approach captured review-level evidence and provided big picture insights on the physical activity behavior change research landscape in IA. A systematic search for physical activity, IA, review articles, and physical activity outcomes was completed using EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus. Article selection was completed by 3 authors using Covidence, followed by data extraction of article characteristics, research methods, populations and interventions, and key findings. After assessing study overlap between reviews and methodological quality (AMSTAR-2), a narrative synthesis was completed to summarize evidence on each of the 3 topics of interest.

results32 reviews covering 421 original articles, were included in the umbrella review. Of these, 7 were related to topic 1, 6 to topic 2, 15 to topic 3, and 4 to more than one topic. Individuals with IA frequently reported lower physical activity levels or decreased intensity compared to adults without IA. Physical function, education level, motivation, and physical activity history were associated with current physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. Behavioral barriers (symptoms, safety concerns) and facilitators (effective treatment, self-efficacy) were noted. Interventions using digital technology, health coaching, and other components can effectively increase physical activity behaviors, though comparative effectiveness data was lacking. AMSTAR-2 overall confidence ratings were low or critically low for 13/15 reviews of physical activity interventions.

conclusionsThe umbrella review provided a comprehensive overview of physical activity behavior change research in IA. Findings highlighted the need to improve physical activity support, leveraging effective intervention strategies in IA care. Given low overall confidence ratings, further high-quality research is needed to understand behaviors and intervention effects long-term, compare effectiveness of intervention strategies, support underserved populations with lower physical activity levels and greater barriers, and inform clinical recommendations.

Indexed as

ExerciseHealth behaviorsLiterature reviewPhysical activityRheumatoid arthritisUmbrella review

Identifiers

PMID41340157
PMCPMC12781547

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.