Lift, love, live. Strength training that you enjoy for a healthier lifestyle.
Scientific Study Title: I START: Improving Strength Training and Tailoring among people with Rheumatoid ARThritis
Principal Investigator:
Jasmin Ma, PhD, P.Kin, CIFT (ACSM) Assistant Professor of Teaching, School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Clinician Investigator, Arthritis Research Canada Investigator, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) Movement 4 All Lab
Study Start Date:
October 2018
Study End Date:
April 2024
Why do this research?
Having strong muscles is important for people with rheumatoid arthritis, but only up to 14% regularly do strength training exercises, even among those with well-controlled disease. Strength training has a lot of important benefits for people with rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to reducing pain and fatigue, it also lowers the risk for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death in this population. In the I START project, we want to find out what helps people with rheumatoid arthritis to take up strength training. Ultimately, this work will help develop effective strategies to empower people to take part in this type of activity in order to improve their health.
What will be done?
In collaboration with our Arthritis Patient Advisory Board members we will:
- Summarize the research on a) how to increase strength training participation and b) how to customize physical activity prescriptions to the individual.
- Interview people with rheumatoid arthritis to gain a better understanding of how we can help promote strength training and write better physical activity prescriptions.
- Based on what we find in steps 1 and 2, we will develop interventions to improve strength training participation and physical activity programs that fit the individual.
Who is involved?
People with rheumatoid arthritis
Who is funding this research?
The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and The Arthritis Society
Co-Investigators:
Linda Li, PhD, Professor, Canada Research Chair in Patient-oriented Knowledge Translation, Harold Robinson / Arthritis Society Chair in Arthritic Diseases, Arthritis Research Canada, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada
How do people get involved?
If you would like to take part in this study or seek more information, please contact:
Jasmin Ma at 604 207 4031 or JMa@arthritisresearch.ca
