Can intense exercise help people with psoriatic arthritis stay heart-healthy?
Effect of high-intensity interval training on cardiovascular disease risk factors and body composition in psoriatic arthritis: a randomised controlled trial
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The VO2max improvement lasted 9 months after training stopped.
Most exercise benefits fade quickly without maintenance—yet this group retained over 80% of their fitness gain despite no supervised training after 11 weeks.
Practical Takeaways
Do 4 rounds of 4-minute high-intensity cycling (85-95% max heart rate) with 3-minute recovery, 3x/week for 11 weeks.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The VO2max improvement lasted 9 months after training stopped.
Most exercise benefits fade quickly without maintenance—yet this group retained over 80% of their fitness gain despite no supervised training after 11 weeks.
Practical Takeaways
Do 4 rounds of 4-minute high-intensity cycling (85-95% max heart rate) with 3-minute recovery, 3x/week for 11 weeks.
Publication
Journal
RMD Open
Year
2018
Authors
R. S. Thomsen, T. Nilsen, G. Haugeberg, A. Bye, A. Kavanaugh, M. Hoff
Related Content
Claims (6)
In adults with psoriatic arthritis, 11 weeks of high-intensity interval training led to a small but measurable decrease in fat around the torso, and this reduction was still present, though smaller, after nine months.
In adults with psoriatic arthritis, 11 weeks of high-intensity interval training was linked to small decreases in body fat percentage and body mass index, though these changes were not statistically significant. The data suggest that fat around the midsection may respond more than overall body fat to this type of exercise.
For adults with psoriatic arthritis, high-intensity interval training does not lead to higher levels of inflammation or joint swelling as measured by standard clinical markers.
Adults with psoriatic arthritis who do high-intensity interval training three times a week for 11 weeks show a measurable improvement in their cardiorespiratory fitness, measured as increased VO2max, which remains elevated after nine months and is linked to lower cardiovascular risk.
Adults with psoriatic arthritis who complete a program of high-intensity interval training maintain improved cardiovascular fitness for at least six months after stopping the supervised sessions, suggesting the training causes lasting changes in how efficiently the body uses oxygen.