PMID 35741229

Research
All papers

Evaluating the Impact of High Intensity Interval Training on Axial Psoriatic Arthritis Based on MR Images

Chronaiou I, Giskeødegård GF, Neubert A, Hoffmann-Skjøstad TV, Thomsen RS, Hoff M, Bathen TF, Sitter B

Question

Does an 11-week HIIT intervention alter MRI markers of axial inflammation in people with psoriatic arthritis?

Summary

In adults with psoriatic arthritis, an 11-week HIIT program did not significantly change spine bone marrow edema on MRI compared with a no-change control group. Clinical scores improved in some measures and MRI findings did not indicate worsening axial inflammation, but the exact HIIT interval prescription was not fully described in this article.

Methodology

  • Adults with psoriatic arthritis fulfilling CASPAR criteria; MRI analysis included 37 participants with complete scans.
  • 39 participants.
  • Stationary bicycling plus one self-guided weekly HIIT session.
  • Intensity: Described as high-intensity interval training; exact interval intensity was not reported in this article.
  • 3 sessions per week, including 2 supervised stationary bicycling sessions and 1 self-guided session.
  • 11 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled trial MRI analysis
  • BASDAI, DAS44, patient global assessment, hs-CRP, and Spine MRI bone marrow edema by radiologist, SPARCC scoring, and texture features were tracked.

Outcomes

Main reported result

Bone marrow edema by radiologist did not significantly change after HIIT compared with control.

No clear change

Main reported result

Radiologist-assessed BME was unchanged in 17 of 17 HIIT participants and 17 of 20 controls.

No clear change

Main reported result

SPARCC score changes also did not differ between groups.

No clear change

Main reported result

BASDAI decreased in the HIIT group and DAS44 decreased in both groups.

Mixed

Main reported result

Texture features distinguished BME from healthy voxels but did not show HIIT-related change.

No clear change

Insights

  • This study supports that supervised HIIT did not worsen MRI-detected axial inflammation in this small psoriatic arthritis sample.
  • The article is not sufficient to reproduce the exact HIIT prescription without the cited parent trial papers.

Limitations

  • Low disease burden and few participants with manifested spinal psoriatic arthritis.
  • Small MRI-analysis sample.
  • Ten MRI series were excluded because of protocol deviations.
  • The exact HIIT interval prescription was not reported in this article.

Safety

  • No worsening of MRI bone marrow edema was observed after HIIT, but adverse events were not otherwise detailed in this article.