Evidence mapPaperPMID 42373138Full record

SynthesisLupus science & medicine2026

Effects of exercise interventions on core health outcomes in patients with SLE: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zehui He, Shuqi Jia, Mengsi Chen, Xinxin Shi, Lunuo Hu, Fei Li, Hui Shi, David C Nieman, Yue Shi

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Lupus science & medicine, 2026. 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

9 authors.

Zehui He *School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-4559-5813
Shuqi Jia *School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7143-4223
Mengsi ChenSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-2989-8877
Xinxin ShiSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-3357-1382
Lunuo HuSchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-9589-1861
Fei LiSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9638-5122
Hui ShiDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3574-8807
David C NiemanNorth Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8305-1860
Yue ShiSchool of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China shiyue910@sina.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4528-8146

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis meta-analysis evaluated the effects of exercise interventions on key health outcomes in adults with SLE, including fatigue, physical function, aerobic capacity, disease activity, depression and pain.

methodsFollowing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched four databases up to February 2025 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in adults diagnosed with SLE according to the American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ACR/EULAR) criteria. Eligible studies examined aerobic, resistance or combined exercise as the sole intervention. Meta-analyses were conducted using Hedges' g, the Risk of Bias 2 (ROB-2) tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system used to assess bias and evidence quality.

resultsTwelve RCTs involving 470 participants were included. Exercise showed small-to-moderate improvements in fatigue (g=-0.53, 95% CI -0.81 to -0.25, p<0.001), physical function (g=0.46, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.68, p<0.001), aerobic capacity (g=0.47, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.71, p<0.001), depression (g=-0.36, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.09, p=0.01) and pain (g=-0.53, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.20, p<0.001), with no significant change in disease activity (g=0.18, 95% CI -0.16 to 0.51, p=0.30). Subgroup analyses suggested greater benefits with moderate-intensity programmes lasting 8-12 weeks. GRADE rated the evidence as moderate for fatigue, physical function, depression and pain, and low for other outcomes.

conclusionExercise is an effective non-pharmacological therapy in SLE management, improving several physical and psychological outcomes. Individualised, moderate-intensity and supervised programmes are recommended. Further research should optimise intervention protocols and evaluate long-term safety. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251115953.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyLupus Erythematosus, SystemicDepressionExerciseFatigueHumansPainQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeExercise TherapyFatigueLupus Erythematosus, SystemicPain

Identifiers

PMID42373138
PMCPMC13331240

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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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.