Exploring the effects of a combined exercise programme on pain and fatigue outcomes in people with systemic sclerosis

Concept

As yet, the effects of a feasible, long-term, tailored exercise programme on pain and fatigue in people with SSc have not been explored. Therefore, this project will carry out a multicentre (n=5) research clinical trial to assess the effect of a previously-established, supervised 12-week combined (aerobic and resistance training) exercise programme on pain and fatigue. The 26-month study will recruit 180 people with SSc that will be allocated randomly to two groups. Group A will perform the exercise programme parallel to standard care and Group B will receive the standard care alone.

Facts and Figures

Project Lead
M Klonizakis
Sheffield Hallam University
m.klonizakis@shu.ac.uk

FOREUM research grant: € 387.216

2021–2024

Meet the Team

Project Lead

M Klonizakis
Sheffield Hallam University
m.klonizakis@shu.ac.uk

A Mitropoulos
Sheffield Hallam University

T Vliet Vlieland
Leiden University Medical Centre

M Mattsson
Karolinska Institutet/Sunderby hospital

S Jacobsen
Copenhagen University

G Cuomo
L. Vanvitelli University

E Kouidi
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Objectives

To investigate the effects of the proposed intervention on digital pain and fatigue of people with SSc.
To investigate the effects of the proposed intervention on QoL, depression, cardiorespiratory fitness, strength of people with SSc.
To investigate the effects of the proposed intervention on the digital structural vascular changes in people with SSc.

Goals/Milestones

Months 1-3: Study set up
Months 4-20: Recruitment, baseline assessments, exercise intervention and follow ups.
Months 21-23: Data analysis.
Months 24-26: Dissemination of findings and study close down. (Report to stakeholders, leaflet for the general public, approx. 4 manuscripts)

Publications

Mitropoulos, A., Boström, C., Mattsson, M., Kouidi E., Dimitroulas T., I. E. Liem S., P. M. Vliet Vlieland T., de Vries-Bouwstra J.K., Jacobsen S., Cuomo G., Akil M. & Klonizakis M. Exploring the effects of a combined exercise programme on pain and fatigue outcomes in people with systemic sclerosis: study protocol for a large European multi-centre randomised controlled trial. Trials 23, 962 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06853-1

Anifanti M, Teloudi A, Mitropoulos A, Syrakou N, Pagkopoulou E, Triantafyllidou E, Boström C, Diederichsen LP, Cuomo G, Dimitroulas T, Klonizakis M, Kouidi E. Right Ventricular Morphology and Function after Exercise Training in People with Systemic Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Life (Basel). 2023 Feb 15;13(2):545. doi: 10.3390/life13020545. PMID: 36836902; PMCID: PMC9958927.

Patient Voice

Participant inclusion:
1) People diagnosed with Systemic Sclerosis experiencing RP; 2) Being over 18 years old; and 3) Patients should be able to perform the prescribed exercise programme.

Benefits for patients:

Reduction of pain and fatigue.
Improvement in QoL, overall fitness, social life.
Prevention of open wounds in fingers and infections/hospitalisations.
Education on benefits of exercise on overall health gained through participation in exercise programme.